Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


French ninth seed Richard Gasquet was beaten 6-4 6-1 on Monday by Peru's Luis Horna, a qualifier at the Rome Masters in Italy.

The match, which lasted exactly one hour and ended under light rain, was held at the Foro Italico

"I think I played a really good game, I'm really happy to have beaten a Top Ten," said the Peruvian player after the match. "I can beat anyone on a clay court."

Two consecutive double faults halfway through the opening set cost Gasquet his serve and marked the start of his downfall.

He is the only top 10 player not to have reached an ATP quarter-final this year.

After missing 15 forehands and committing 27 unforced errors overall, the French player lost to 111th-ranked Horna and assured he had played his worst match of the year.

"After losing the first set I lost my confidence, I began to panic. The second set was a total washout; there was nothing in my head. Today anyone could have beaten me," Gasquet said. "I played my worst match of the year."

To qualify for the event, Horna had to beat Max Mirnyi and Mischa Zverev.

He will go up against the winner of the match between Argentinian José Acasuso and Russian Dimitry Tursunov.