OPEN DE MOSELLE Metz, France October 16, 2004 Gasquet, Haehnel in First Career Final In the first semifinal of the day, qualifier Jerome Haehnel advanced to his first career final after an epic three-hour, 12-minute combat against compatriot Paul-Henri Mathieu. Haehnel, who defeated Andre Agassi in the first round of Roland Garros earlier this year, needed three tie-breaks to defeat 22-year-old Mathieu in their first career meeting. Following on centre court, Richard Gasquet booked a spot into his first career final after a comprehensive 57-minute victory over former NCAA champion Jeff Morisson 6-1, 6-4. Gasquet was impressively solid on Saturday at the Open de Moselle, he never faced a break point and took his opponent's serve on three occasions. The young rising French player from Bezier is playing in Metz in his first indoor tournament of the year. WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID: Gasquet: "I am really happy to be playing so well and be in my first career final. I didn't think I was going to win so easily today, but I felt particularly good on the court." "Against Jerome [Haenhel], I know it won't be easy but I hope I can win my first career title. He defeated me once. It was three years ago in a Futures event. I remember some of this match but tomorrow the conditions are completely different so we will see what happens." Haehnel:"I still can't believe what is happening to me. I need some time to reflect on this week. Probably once the tournament is over, I will be able to realize what is happening to me.I came to play the qualifying event and I am in the final tomorrow. " "This match was very close, it could have gone both ways. I was maybe more aggressive than him. I took the risks, came to the net, hit a lot of winners with my forehand." "Tomorrow I am looking to be relaxed and play well. I feel a bit tired, I think today couldn't be any longer but when you win, you feel just fine." Mathieu: "I am disappointed but Jerome [Haenhel] played so well. The return is one of my strength, but he served well on first and second balls, it was really difficult to hurt him on the returns.팊 "I was probably a little tight today, but it is normal. Sometimes it is the legs that are not fast enough, today I was tight and it is part of the game to be able to deal when some things are not working the way you would want them to." FINAL PREVIEW Final action takes place on Sunday at the Open de Moselle featuring qualifier Jerome Haehnel and young rising hope Richard Gasquet in the ninth all-countrymen final of the year (San Jose, Valencia, Acapulco, Roland Garros, Bastad, Los Angeles, Stuttgart and Beijing). The winner on Sunday will become the fourth French player to win an ATP event in 2004 after Anthony Dupuis (Milan) Nicolas Escude (Doha), and Michael Llodra (s'-Hertogenbosch). The last time two French players faced each other in the final of an ATP event was Marseille in 1999 when Fabrice Santoro defeated Arnaud Clement in the final. At 18 years old and two months, Gasquet is hoping to become the third teenager to win an ATP tournament this year. (Rafael Nadal won in Sopot with 18yrs.2mo. and and Tomas Berdych in Palermo with 19yrs.17days.). Jerome Haenhel is aiming to extend his winning streak to eight matches at the Open de Moselle. The Mulhouse native, who defeated Gasquet in a Futures event three years ago, is looking to become the second qualifier to earn an ATP title this year after Santiago Ventura in Casablanca (d. Dominik Hrbaty in the final). -- Esc_ --

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