Seventh seed Richard Gasquet, a two-time semifinalist at the All England Club, got his Wimbledon campaign underway with a victory against home player Aljaz Bedene on court three. The Brit showed fighting spirit throughout the match, but eventually came up  short bowing out 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 in two hours 13 minutes. Marcel Granollers awaits in the second round following his four sets win over Victor Estrella Burgos.  

Gasquet in control 

Gasquet started off looking strong and powerful. After holding to get the match started, the Frenchman then broke following an attempted drop shot from his British opponent. Gasquet then consolidated the break for a 3-0 lead. Bedene got on the board in the fourth game with a hold of serve to love. At 4-1, Bedene surrendered a 40 love lead but dug in and won the next two points for 4-2.

In the next game, Gasquet missed his trademark backhand down the line shot which then gave Bedene two break points opportunities 15-40. The Frenchman saved one point but couldn't save another as the Brit broke back. Bedene failed to consolidate the break and Gasquet had the chance to serve out for the set. The two-time semifinalist took the first set 6-3 by holding to love.

Frenchman battles to win the second set

Bedene and Gasquet both started their service games with confident holds of love. In the fourth game, Bedene was patient and precise and attacked Gasquet's forehand as he looked to force the error. But, Gasquet stood firm and held to level the set at 2-2. In the following game, Gasquet worked hard to gain a break point. At love-30 with Bedene ahead in the rally, Gasquet ripped a backhand down the line to reach break point. Once again, the Frenchman would hit a shot down the line and followed by a challenge, the ball clipped the line. The 29-year-old went 3-2 ahead. 

Richard Gasquet in action at Wimbledon (Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Richard Gasquet in action at Wimbledon (Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Gasquet raced away to a love-40 lead on his serve and Bedene fought tooth and nail to get back level to deuce. The Brit then claimed his first break point of the set hitting an overhead smash. But Gasquet denied the Brit and took the game to deuce once again. 

The world number 56 then had two more break points saved in the game as the seventh seed went 4-2 up. In the eighth game, Bedene went four from four on missed break point chances as Gasquet went within a game of the set. Two games later and Gasquet would serve it out for a two set lead. 

Gasquet closes out victory 

At the start of the third, Gasquet upped his game and broke Bedene. In the upcoming game, he consolidated and went 2-0 up. With Gasquet in control of the third game, however, would see him miss five break point chance. This was more due to the fact that Bedene was fighting hard and going to the forehand of Gasquet which was hit and miss throughout the match. Two games later with the set at 4-2, the world number ten had two break points saved by Bedene from 15-40. 

At deuce, the world number 56 won the next two points to take the set to 4-3. The Frenchman got taken to deuce in the next game but managed to hold serve and go within a game of clinching the set. With Bedene serving to stay in the game a little longer, Gasquet decided to up his game again and he got rewarded with a match point at 40-15, which he managed to put away and clinch the victory. 

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