ATP Tour - Fantasy Tennis: Enough Gasquet?

Eurosport - Sat, 17 May 08:04:00 2008

This week's Casablanca Grand Prix offers Fantasy Tennis fans an interesting dilemma - how much should you change your team this close to the French Open?

TENNIS 2008 MS Monte-Carlo Richard Gasquet - 0

Each week here on "In or Out" offers tips on players set to compete in that week's event who could be worth picking, hopefully giving you an edge over your rivals.

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A Group

In: Richard Gasquet or whoever you already have

With Roland Garros only one week away and the French number one a 99.99 percent chance to choke at his home tournament, how much stock should you put in Gasquet for Casablanca? The answer depends on who you already have on your team. Gasquet has been horrible on clay of late, but a poor field in Morocco could be just what he needs. That being said spending one of your two transfers on him this week will mean having to spend another one next week to get rid of him, and that should only be done if you're absolutely content with the rest of your squad heading into French Open.

Out: Players other than Federer, Nadal and Djokovic

Gasquet is the only Group A option in this week's tournament and hence the only one worth picking if you're going to make a change. If you have Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, or Novak Djokovic on your side than it may not be worth dropping them ahead of the French. Anyone else, however, is expendable.

B Group

In: Whoever you already have

There are no Group B players in this tournament and hence you really shouldn't be making any moves here.

Out: Paul-Henri Mathieu

The defending champion is not scheduled to play in next week's tournament and even if he was, we would say he's not worth having heading into the French. First round exits in Monte Carlo and Rome do not tell a promising tale heading into a Grand Slam.

C Group

In: Albert Montanes

The runner-up in last year's event has been in stunning form this claycourt season with quarter-finals appearances in Barcelona and Hamburg and a Challenger title in Monza. The Spaniard could even be a dark horse keeper from this group during Roland Garros.

Out: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

The agile Australian Open runner-up will be at the top of our list once the grass season begins. But for now, Tsonga tstays on the tsidelines.

D Group

In: Marc Gicquel

The Frenchman has struggled on clay this year with three straight losses. But a semi-finals appearance here last year bodes well. We're more likely to witness the form that saw him reach the last eight in Estoril than that which saw him dumped out of Monte Carlo and Munich in the first rounds.

Out: The rest

It's really difficult to see anyone else worth having in this ragtag bunch of misfits. So don't pick any of them.

Eurosport