Richard Gasquet seals Kremlin Cup title, closes in on ATP World Tour Finals berth

Richard Gasquet of France is now 9th in the ATP World Tour Finals Race to London Standings after he won his third ATP title of the year at the Kremlin Cup. The Frenchman defeated Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Gasquet now overtakes compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the rankings and is now within distance of qualifying for the year-end event for the second time.

Gasquet won titles in Doha and Montpellier earlier this year and was in danger of letting the match slip away when his opponent won the first set and led 4-3 in the second. However, Gasquet held his nerve to win the next three games. The third set was a close encounter as well but the Frenchman prevailed 6-4.

Kukushkin, ranked 102nd prior to this event, will make a return to the world’s top 100 following strong finishes in the past three weeks. Prior to his run in Moscow final, the Kazakh won two ATP Challenger events back to back.