Hugo Gaston offers himself John Isner and goes to the third round in Miami

Before the match, Hugo Gaston returned 35 centimeters to John Isner and he knew that hail was going to fall on his head for sure. On arrival, the 21-year-old Frenchman certainly took 22 aces in the buffet and he was still 35 centimeters less tall, but the Greensboro grandet looked all sagged when he came to shake hands with the little “Frenchie at the net. Winner in straight sets (7-6 [5], 6-4) in 1h35, Gaston offered himself Friday, in Miami, his greatest success of the year. Arrived in Florida a little askew with only one victory on the ATP circuit in 2022 (against Corentin Moutet in Marseille), the Toulousain is now in the third round, where he will cross paths with Briton Cameron Norrie, in an enticing battle of strategists lefties. Above all, the Frenchman showed tactical accuracy and great lucidity on Friday, especially in the decisive game of the first set, to tame the compulsive server from North Carolina, winner here in 2018 and finalist in 2019, excuse me. little! Isner missed in the tie-break If he only made 8 points out of the 48 played behind Isner’s first missile ball, Gaston was often master of the field as soon as the game started and the The American ended up weary and embarassed in the cushioned lines / lobs and backhand slices, which the Frenchman did not stop serving him. And even when he did not convert the three break points he obtained at the start of the match, the Frenchman saved the five against him, including a set point, to stick to the North Carolina giant until the tie- break. Isner then served the entry lead, distilled a judicious counter-amortization and it was feared that things were written at 1-4. But the American was a little lost. He served two first balls “worked” rather than struck rather baroque, which he followed strangely to the net! He was caught once, losing his mini-break, then a second, giving up the set on a badly touched volley which allowed Gaston to nail him. Highest career ranking The American had a real moment of hesitation. He was even on the verge of letting go, his legs full, leading 0-40 from the start on his face-off. But his serve saved him again. For a time. Hugo Gaston was then master of the exchange and rarely worried about his face-off (no break point conceded in the second set). At 5-4, on a wire, Isner did not serve a first ball on the first three points and found himself at 0-40 again, planted on three winning passings from the Frenchman! As a symbol, a delight, it was on a winning return behind a first ball that the Toulousain sealed the match and bent Isner for the account. With this big victory, the protege of Marc Barbier ensured in passing, at least a 62nd world rank next Monday, that is, for sure, his best career ranking. But above all, with this success Gaston had probably finally really launched his season.