Gasquet Wins at Home to Seal Second Title of the Season

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PARIS (Reuters) - World number 10 Richard Gasquet clinched his second title of the year by easily beating fellow Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-2 6-3 in the Montpellier Open on Sunday.

Gasquet, who had already won in Doha last month, took one hour and nine minutes to cruise past the 43th-ranked Paire.

The 26-year-old Gasquet, born only 40 miles from Montpellier, now has nine trophies to his name and his win on Sunday was the first time he had landed multiple titles in a single year since 2006.

"Three years ago, it was an incredible feeling to know that an event was going to take place in Montpellier, knowing that I would have a few opportunities to win it," Gasquet said on the court.

"It was one of my goals. I won in front of my friends, my family who were all in the stands. It's wonderful to have won two titles this season.

The world number 10 made a perfect start, breaking his opponent's serve in the first game before holding to swiftly take a 2-0 lead.

He proved too solid for the 23-year-old Paire and broke him a second time with a trademark backhand in the seventh game before wrapping it up 6-2 in 23 minutes.

Gasquet again took command with another break in the fifth game of the second set, only to see Paire level to 3-3 immediately, though he eventually tightened his grip to grab the last three games and extend his season win-loss record to 14-1.  

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