MONTPELLIER, France — Local favourite Richard Gasquet won the Open Sud de France when Jerzy Janowicz retired ill while trailing 3-0 in the first set on Sunday.
The fourth-seeded Gasquet, who did not lose a set all week, lifted the trophy for the third time after winning in 2006, when the tournament was held in Lyon, and 2013. Last year, Gasquet was runner-up to his French Davis Cup teammate Gael Monfils, whom he beat in the semifinals on Saturday.
Janowicz retired after losing 14 straight points as the 28-year-old Gasquet, who was born in the nearby city of Beziers, raced to a 3-0, 30-0 lead.
"I’m extremely disappointed because I felt pretty OK the whole week," said the big serving Pole. "I saved six match points in the first round and after that I played pretty good tennis. Two days ago, I got sick. I haven’t slept in almost two days. I had a fever and the flu and I’m so weak. There was not much that I could do today."
It was Gasquet’s 11th title and his first since 2013.