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Home , Amine Ahouda, Grand Prix Hassan II, Radu Albot, Teymuraz Gabashvili, Thiemo de Bakker

GRAND PRIX HASSAN II: DAY 2 MEDIA NOTES Tuesday, April 5, 2016

Royal Club de Marrakech, Marrakech, | April 4 – 10, 2016 Draw: S-28, D-16 | Prize Money: €520,070 | Surface: Clay

ATP Info: Tournament Info: ATP PR & Marketing: www.ATPWorldTour.com http://www.gphassan2tennis.com Fabienne Benoit: [email protected] @ATPWorldTour Press Room: +212 524 379 201 facebook.com/ATPWorldTour

SEEDS GABASHVILI, RAMOS-VINOLAS, VESELY HIGHLIGHT DAY TWO ACTION

DAY 2 PREVIEW: There are seven singles matches on Tuesday’s schedule at the Grand Prix Hassan II, leading off with No. 5 seed of Russia in the first match on Centre Court. Gabashvili takes on last year’s finalist Daniel Gimeno-Traver, who won the previous meeting in Hamburg two years ago. In the following match on, 2007 champion Paul-Henri Mathieu looks for his second win against No. 6 Spaniard Albert Ramos-Vinolas, who was a finalist in 2012. In the opening week of the season in Doha, the Frenchman prevailed in a third set tie-break. In the third match on, of Moldova and former Top 10 Spaniard Nicolas Almagro meet for the first time. Albot is making his tournament debut and second appearance on the ATP World Tour this season. Almagro reached the final in Buenos Aires (l. to Thiem) in February. In the final match on, local wild card and Dutchman square off for the first time. On Court 2, Spaniard Inigo Cervantes and No. 8 seed Jiri Vesely, who reached the semi-finals last year, are a first-time battle.

ALMAGRO ON THE MOVE: Former World No. 9 Nicolas Almagro is making his third tournament appearance (also 2005, 2015). Last year he returned for the first time in 10 years to reach the quarter- finals (l. to eventual champion Klizan). In February, he reached the final in Buenos Aires with wins over No. 9 Tsonga (QF) and No. 6 Ferrer (SF) before losing to Thiem in a 3rd set TB.

DAY 2 FEDEX ATP HEAD 2 HEADS – In Order of Play by Court

CENTRE COURT

[5] Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS) vs Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) G-Traver Leads 1-0 14 Hamburg (Germany) Clay R64 Daniel Gimeno-Traver 6-2 6-3 Other meeting: 08 Telde CH (Spain) Clay SF Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-3 7-6(3)

Gabashvili 2016 FastFacts: SF: Sydney (l Troicki) YTD W-L: 7-8 (7-8 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: May 23, 1985 Emirates ATP Ranking: 51 Tournament W-L (Best Result-Year): 2-3 (QF- 2009)

• The 30-year-old Russian, who is playing in his first event of the season, is making his fourth tournament appearance and advanced to QF in his 2009 debut (l. to Serra). Lost in 1R in 2010 (l. to El Amrani) and 2014 (l. to Berlocq) • In January, snapped 0-16 start to career in ATP World Tour QFs by reaching Sydney SF (d. Tomic, l. to Troicki) • Saved 3 MPs to upset defending champion Simon in Marseille 1R (l. to Kyrgios in 2R) • Achieved career-high No. 43 in Emirates ATP Rankings on February 1 • Defeated Windahl and Arvidsson to help Russia sweep Sweden 5-0 in Europe/Africa Zone Group I

Grand Prix Hassan II Day 2 – Tuesday, April 5, 2016 Page 2 of 4 www.ATPWorldTour.com

Gimeno-Traver 2016 FastFacts: QF: Rio de Janeiro (l Pella) YTD W-L: 3-4 (3-2 on clay, 0-2 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: August 7, 1985 Emirates ATP Ranking: 102 Tournament W-L (Best Result-Year): 4-3 (Finalist- 2015)

• The 30-year-old Spaniard is making his fourth tournament appearance (4-3 record) and last year advanced to his maiden ATP World Tour final (l. to Klizan). Also lost in 1R in 2011 (l. to Hanescu) and 2013 (l. to Garcia-Lopez) • Qualified and reached QFs at Rio de Janeiro (d. Monaco and Fognini, l. to Pella 75 in 3rd) • Enjoyed 3 walkovers en route to QF: Mathieu in Q2, Monaco in 1R (right shoulder) and Fognini in 2R (abdomen) • Advanced to 2R at São Paulo (d. Clezar, l. to Carreño Busta)

Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) vs [6] Albert Ramos-Vinolas (ESP) Mathieu Leads 1-0 16 Doha (Qatar) Hard R32 Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-3 4-6 7-6(7) Other meeting: 15 ATP Masters 1000 Paris Q () Hard -- Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-3 6-2

Mathieu 2016 FastFacts: F: Montpellier (l Gasquet) YTD W-L: 5-5 (5-4 on hard, 0-1 on clay) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 4 Date of Birth: January 12, 1982 Emirates ATP Ranking: 63 Tournament W-L (Best Result-Year): 8-6 (Winner- 2007)

•The 34-year-old Frenchman is making his eighth tournament appearance (8-6 record) and won title in 2007 (d. Montanes). Made debut in 2002 and reached QF (l. to El Aynaoui). Qualified last year and lost in 1R (l. to Dzumhur) • In February, fell short of 1st ATP World Tour title since 2007 with loss in Montpellier final (d. Paire in 2R, l. to No. 10 Gasquet). On a 5-match losing streak in finals (4-6) and 22-match losing streak vs. Top 10 opponents (10-59) • Saved 1 MP in 63 46 76(7) win over Ramos-Viñolas in Doha 1R (l. to Chardy in 2R) • Fell to 1-9 in Challenger finals with 3-set loss to Rublev in Quimper, FRA championship match

Ramos-Vinolas 2016 FastFacts: SF: Quito (l Estrella Burgos) YTD W-L: 8-9 (4-4 on clay, 4-5 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: January 17, 1988 Emirates ATP Ranking: 50 Tournament W-L (Best Result-Year): 5-3 (Finalist- 2012)

• The 28-year-old Spaniard is making his fourth tournament visit (5-3 record) and best result is runner-up in 2012 debut (l. to Andujar). Lost in 2R in 2014 (l. to Granollers) and 1R last year (l to Kukushkin) • Rallied from 2-5 down in 3rd to beat Ram,then upset Lopez en route to Quito SFs (l. to Estrella Burgos) • Advanced to ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells 3R (d. Chung and Kyrgios, l. to Monfils) • Earned 1st win in 5th appearance at (d. Coric, l. to Cilic) • Held 1 MP before falling to Mathieu in 1st match of season at Doha • Conceded walkover in Quito doubles 1R w/Falla vs. Krajicek/Monroe due to stomach illness

Grand Prix Hassan II Day 2 – Tuesday, April 5, 2016 Page 3 of 4 www.ATPWorldTour.com

Radu Albot (MDA) vs Nicolas Almagro (ESP) First Meeting

Albot 2016 FastFacts: 2016 Highlights: YTD W-L: 0-1 YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: November 11, 1989 Emirates ATP Ranking: 156 Tournament W-L (Best Result-Year): Debut

• The top player from Moldova is making his tournament debut and playing in second ATP World Tour tournament of the season. Lost to Becker in Delray Beach in February • Lost in 2R (final round) qualifying in Doha and Memphis. Also fell in 2R at Australian Open qualifying • Has an 1-5 record in Challengers this season • Last year became first player from his country to break into Top 100, reaching career-high No. 85 on August 24. Compiled a 33-15 match record in Challenger level play

Almagro 2016 FastFacts: F: Buenos Aires (l Thiem) YTD W-L: 6-6 (5-3 on clay, 1-3 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 12 Date of Birth: August 21, 1985 Emirates ATP Ranking: 62 Tournament W-L (Best Result-Year): 3-2 (QF-2015)

• The 30-year-old Spaniard is making his third tournament appearance (3-2 record) and last year reached QF (l. to Klizan). Made debut in 2005 and lost in 2R (l. to Puerta) • Advanced to 1st ATP World Tour final since 2014 Houston at Buenos Aires in February (l. to Thiem 76 in 3rd). En route to final, beat No. 9 Tsonga in QF and No. 6 Ferrer in SF to snap 6-match losing streak vs. Top 10 (19-65 overall). Improved to 1-15 lifetime against fellow Spaniard Ferrer • Reached 2R at Australian Open (l. to Thiem) and Rio de Janeiro (l. to No. 5 Nadal)

[WC] Amine Ahouda (MAR) vs Thiemo de Bakker (NED) First Meeting

Ahouda 2016 FastFacts: YTD W-L: 0-0 YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: January 19, 1999 Emirates ATP Ranking: 834 Tournament W-L (Best Result-Year): Debut

• The 17-year-old wild card is making his tournament debut and maiden main draw appearance on ATP World Tour • Has played most of his young pro career on native continent. Last month advanced to SF at Tunisia #8 Futures event and picked up 6 Emirates ATP Ranking points • Last year reached first pro final at Morocco #6 Futures and also QF in two other events de Bakker 2016 FastFacts: YTD W-L: 3-7 (3-7 on hard) YTD Titles: 0 / Career Titles: 0 Date of Birth: September 19, 1988 Emirates ATP Ranking: 105 Tournament W-L (Best Result-Year): Debut

• The 27-year-old Dutchman is making his tournament debut and first appearance this season on clay • Qualified at Auckland (d. Ramos-Viñolas, l. to Fognini in 2R) and Acapulco (l. to No. 6 Nishikori in 1R) • Reached 2R at Sofia (d. Ebden, l. to Seppi) and ATP Masters 1000 Indian Wells (d. Vesely, l. to Querrey) • Fell to 0-3 lifetime at Australian Open with 1R loss to Cilic Grand Prix Hassan II Day 2 – Tuesday, April 5, 2016 Page 4 of 4 www.ATPWorldTour.com

Court 1

[Q] Lorenzo Giustino (ITA) vs (UZB) First Meeting

Court 2

Iñigo Cervantes (ESP) vs [8] Jiri Vesely (CZE) First Meeting

Simone Bolelli (ITA) vs Taro Daniel (JPN) First Meeting