Gasquet triumphs in Nice

Richard Gasquet overcame Fernando Verdasco in three sets to claim the Nice Open crown on Saturday.

Perfect warm-up for Murray clash in Paris

Richard Gasquet overcame Fernando Verdasco in three sets to claim the Nice Open crown on Saturday. The unseeded Frenchman delighted the home crowds as he held his nerve to secure a memorable 6-3 5-7 7-6 (7-5) triumph. The victory provided Gasquet with the perfect tune-up for the French Open which gets underway on Sunday, with the 23-year-old facing Andy Murray in the first round. Having fallen a set behind, Verdasco battled back well to take the second and looked on course for victory in the decider when he moved 3-0 clear in the tie-break. But, cheered on by the partisan home crowd, Gasquet responded in fine style to clinch the eighth title of his career and his first since Mumbai in September 2007. Gasquet, who followed up his success in a challenger event in Bordeaux last week, said afterwards: "I'd like to thank the fans who really helped me in the third set."