Roger Federer vs Richard Gasquet: LIVE Shanghai Masters updates from quarter-final clash

Roger Federer is seeded second for the Shanghai Masters and is going strong.

The Swiss has already cruised past Diego Schwartzman and Alexandr Dolgopolov.

In fact, he needed just an hour to beat third-round opponent Dolgopolov, with one service game lasting just 47 seconds!

Gasquet beat his French compatriot Gilles Simon 7-5 6-7 6-3 to progress to the quarter-finals.

But Federer is the clear favourite heading into the encounter. Follow all the action from Federer vs Gasquet below…

Roger Federer vs Richard Gasquet LIVE updates

(* denotes server)

Federer 7-5 5-4 Gasquet*

Lovely stuff. Gasquet comes to the net and flicks his wrist to curve the ball away from Federer for 30-0. The pair exchange points – 40-15 now. Gasquet serves down the centre and Federer begins the rally… but the Swiss nets a few shots in. He will now serve for the match.

*Federer 7-5 5-3 Gasquet

Gasquet almost goes into the crowd chasing an angled Federer backhand. Federer then slams an ace down the T. Gasquet claims a point back as Federer cannot control a volley at the net. And suddenly it’s 30-30 as Gasquet’s defence holds strong.

Can the Frenchman get something here? Hmm… Federer slams it down the T again for another ace. And in the following rally Gasquet slices into the net.

Federer 7-5 4-3 Gasquet* BREAK

The two men exchange opening points but Gasquet nets for 15-30. He does so again and here are two break points again. Gasquet saved himself last time – can he this time? He rescues the first after a huge 21-shot rally, eventually winning the point with a forehand into the opposite corner.

Federer then gets the stroke of luck that will probably decide the match as he clips the net in the next rally. Gasquet comes forward, reaches it but Federer then just lobs his man. There’s the break.

*Federer 7-5 3-3 Gasquet

Federer’s serve moves him 30-0 up. Gasquet cannot reach the next. That’s 40-0. And a wonderful serve-volley rounds off the game.

Yesterday Federer won a service game against Alexandr Dolgopolov in 47 seconds. This one was close if not shorter!

Federer 7-5 2-3 Gasquet*

Another glorious rally starts this game, with Federer slicing around the court and Gasquet jumping into the ball. Eventually Federer arches his back and slams down a winner. Federer then produces a lovely winner off the backhand as Gasquet attacks. 0-30.

Gasquet gets a point back but Federer drivers a marvellous low forehand to wrong foot his man. The first break point is saved, and then the second with an angled forehand as the match nears the hour match. Deuce.

Another meaty rally sees Federer pin Gasquet to the back of the court until the Frenchman nets. The crowd love it. Yet Gasquet goes for the corner and gets it to level up again.

Gasquet then flicks away a backhand for his own advantage point. Federer then nets. A big hold there from Gasquet.

*Federer 7-5 2-2 Gasquet

Federer comes to the net and puts away Gasquet’s stretching lob for 15-0. He then forces the Frenchman into another corner, the ball flying into the net as a result. Gasquet goes wide on the service return for 40-0. The then fires down a serve that Gasquet cannot hit back.

Federer 7-5 1-2 Gasquet*

Federer wins his 10th backhand winner of the match to go 0-15 ahead. Gasquet then levels with an ace. He ten moves 40-15 ahead and sees out the game with a forehand that grazes Federer’s right tramline.

*Federer 7-5 1-1 Gasquet BREAK

Could we have an immediate break back? Gasquet forces Federer wide before dispatching his shot for 0-30. He then slams home another. Three break points. What’s Federer’s defence like? Gasquet is called long, which he challenges and gets wrong. 15-40. Federer then serves wide, Gasquet finds it but sends it to the Swiss’ feet. He’ll win this point surely… NO! Federer goes wide and we’re back level.

Federer 7-5 1-0 Gasquet* BREAK

Oh dear. It doesn’t look like Gasquet’s head is down but Federer is pumped. He romps to a break to love. That’s surprising considering Gasquet was so strong on his serve in the previous set.

*Federer 7-5 Gasquet FIRST SET FEDERER

Boom. Federer goes ahead with a monster serve but then calls out, only for it to be in. 15-15. Another huge serve restores the advantage. Gasquet goes short with his next serve return, drawing Federer in, before dispatching a beautiful backhand past the Swiss.

At 30-30 Federer again closes in after serving to Gasquet’s forehand and wins the point. He then opens up his body to thump down the set-winning point.

Federer 6-5 Gasquet* BREAK

Replay that point please! Gasquet comes forward and Federer just backhand lobs his man. Wonderful stuff. We then have the longest rally of the match with 21 shots, which ends with Federer opening up such a ludicrous angle that Gasquet cannot reach it. 15-30.

Gasquet opens up his body and goes long straight off his serve. Two break points after 10 games of evenly matched tennis. Federer forces Gasquet into his forehand corner and the subsequent cross shot goes long.

*Federer 5-5 Gasquet

Gasquet claims his 12th winner to Federer’s five to go 15-30 up. A big calls coming up as Gasquet claims a Federer shot is long – but it isn’t. Federer then forces his opponent long and that sniff of a set has suddenly disappeared as Federer slams down an unreturnable serve.

Federer 4-5 Gasquet*

Gasquet keeps on the attack to carve open a 40-0 lead – his third winner a delightful, punchy backhand. Federer bullies Gasquet into dropping the net point but the Frenchman is still in control of this game. Indeed, Federer goes long on second serve return and it’s 5-4 to Gasquet.

*Federer 4-4 Gasquet

Federer fails in a challenge but hits back for 15-15. This is a key game for both players. Federer hits the net, only for Gasquet to do the same – Federer clinging to the point. Federer then delivers a delightful shot – one of the best of the match – as he almost turns his back on the net and backhanding from the baseline down the line. Federer then dispatches the game.

Federer 3-4 Gasquet*

Gasquet isn’t rattled by Federer here. He’s willing to match up with the Swiss and draw him forward. At 30-15 he forces Federer long. And he wraps ups he game by wrongfooting his opponent on the baseline.

*Federer 3-3 Gasquet

Gasquet fails to pull off a passing shot and then Federer comes into the net for 30-0. Gasquet hits back for his first point on the Federer serve. But the Swiss is happy to play an attritional game and waits for the mistake. 40-15.

Federer serves out side and Gasquet this a superb return to stay in the game. He then forces deduce when latching onto Federer’s drop-shot volley and himself clip over the wire.

Federer goes wide and Gasquet has break point – but he hits it half an inch long to level it up again.

Federer then aces – the first of the match – and then plants a lovely backhand down the line for the game.

Federer 2-3 Gasquet*

Federer challenges for a call and gets it wrong. 15-15. Gasquet then keeps the ball high when relying with his opponent and forces the error. Federer then goes long for 40-15. He then slams down another wayward effort – this time coming forward – and Gasquet is back in the lead.

*Federer 2-2 Gasquet

Federer races into a 30-0 lead, slamming home past Gasquet. He keeps his opponents anchored at the back of the court and the pressure tells as Gasquet nets. A wide return of serve and it’s another game for Federer.

Federer 1-2 Gasquet*

A lovely backhand drop shot from Federer opens up a 15-30 lead. He then wastes a chance to go two points up when netting, but forces Gasquet into a mistake himself while retreating. Break point here… but Gasquet saves with a lovely flat backhand. Federer then nets to hand the Frenchman the advantage and Gasquet duly gobbles up his service game with another punchy shot past his opponent.

*Federer 1-1 Gasquet

Well that didn’t last long. Federer wins his first service game to love.

Federer 0-1 Gasquet*

Gasquet starts with a unreturnable serve. A smattering of applause. Federer then hits back and the crowd go wild. Gasquet then moves 40-15 ahead and Federer nets for the game. We’re underway.

Federer and Gasquet on court

13:32: Roger Federer and Richard Gasquet are about to come out on court.

Juan Martin del Potro is into the last four after beating Viktor Troicki.

The Argentine will face either Federer or Gasquet in the semi-finals.

But there is a concern for Del Potro, who fell in the third set of today’s win and injured his wrist.

Del Potro didn’t play a single topspin backhand after the incident, instead relying on his forehand and backhand slice to see him through 4-6 6-1 6-4.

Next up, it’s Roger v Richard.

Del Potro injury, Fed on next

12:55: Federer and Gasquet are no doubt warming up somewhere in the bowels on this Shanghai stadium.

They’re likely to be waiting a wee bit longer after Del Potro takes a break in the third set against Troicki after a fall.

Del Potro’s had wrist problems all his career and it looks as though he’s hurt his left thumb.

He can’t seem to play two-handed backhand shots, but that doesn’t seem to be bothering him. The forehand and slice backhand has Del Potro a break up, 3-2 in the third.

Del Potro update

12:40: Just to let you know Federer vs Gasquet starts after Troicki vs Del Potro.

Troicki and Del Potro are currently tied at a set apiece.

Troicki won the first 6-4 but Del Potro has stormed back 6-1 in the second.

Federer vs Gasquet will not begin until at least 1pm BST.

When will Federer start?

12:22: Not long, people, not long! The game will begin after Juan Martin del Potro vs Victor Troicki – and not before 1pm.

The pair are just going into a third set now. Troicki took the first 6-4 before JMdP took the second 6-1.

Federer speaking after beating Dolgopolov

“I think I served well. I had good concentration. Had good energy, as well, which I think is always important early on in a tournament. I think getting the break early in the second set gave me the chance to try a few more things, play more relaxed, go for my shots more, and then I was able to bring it home, you know, coming back from Love-30 I think in the last game.

“So it was a good match for me. I’m actually very happy with my level.”

Gasquet’s route at the Shanghai Masters

Richard Gasquet played Robin Haase in the first round of the Shanghai Masters as he was unseeded for the event.

He battled past the Dutchman 6-7 7-5 6-2 in possibly his toughest match of the tournament so far.

Gasquet’s serve has been strong in Shanghai but breaks have been a problem. He’s been forced into three tie breaks from a possible six sets.

Gasquet beat Belgium’s David Goffin 7-6 6-3 in the second round before edging past Gilles Simon in three sets to progress to the quarters.

Federer’s route at the Shanghai Masters

Federer required a tie break to get through his first set against Diego Schwartzman before finishing off the Argentine 6-4 in the second.

That was his second-round match and on Thursday Federer played Alexandr Dolgopolov in a match that really should have been more evenly contested.

Dolgopolov had no answer to the Federer first serve and was beaten in one game in just 47 seconds.

If Federer gets past Gasquet as expected he will meet Viktor Troicki or Juan Martin del Potro in the semi-final, with Rafael Nadal and Maria Cilic making up the other semi-final.

Federer vs Gasquet head to head

Federer and Gasquet go way back. They first met in 2005 at the Monte Carlo Masters, where Gasquet won their quarter-final tie 6-7 6-2 7-6.

Federer then won their next seven meetings, including the finals of Hamburg (2005) and Canada (2006).

In total Gasquet has managed just two wins against Federer in his career – the second on clay at the Rome Masters in 2011.

These men last met at the US Open quarter-final stage in 2015, where Federer won comfortably 6-3 6-3 6-1.

Welcome

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of Roger Federer vs Richard Gasquet.

Federer is the heavy favourite heading into this match and is on course for a final clash with Rafael Nadal.

Federer arrived in Shanghai at the weekend after a trip to Japan and is well rested, having not played since the Laver Cup alongside Nadal.

Will we see another Fed demolition job? Or will Gasquet pull something out of nowhere?