Richard Gasquet Bids Farewell to Tennis After Roland-Garros Defeat
The French tennis veteran concludes his career following a match against World No. 1 Jannik Sinner at Roland-Garros.
Richard Gasquet, the esteemed French tennis player, concluded his professional career after a defeat against Italy's Jannik Sinner at the Roland-Garros tournament.
The match ended with scores of 6-3, 6-0, and 6-4 in favor of Sinner, who is ranked No. 1 in the world and will face Czech player Jiri Lehecka in the third round.
Gasquet, with an impressive tally of 16 ATP titles and three Grand Slam semifinal appearances, marked his presence at the French Open for the 22nd time, a record only matched previously by his compatriot Antoine Gentien, who competed in the first half of the 20th century.
Following the final match point, Gasquet received a standing ovation from the crowd, responding to the heartfelt recognition of his extensive career.
With tears in his eyes, he sat on the bench, awaiting a ceremony planned to honor his contributions to tennis.
In his post-match interview, Sinner acknowledged the generational differences, stating, "We belong to different generations."
Sinner expressed his admiration for Gasquet's career, remarking, "You played during an incredible era for tennis," referring to the dominance of players such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
He celebrated Gasquet's achievements, saying, "Bravo for your exceptional career, for everything you have done.
This is your moment," as the tribute ceremony commenced.
Gasquet's retirement follows the departures of fellow French players Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon in 2022, marking him as the third of the so-called 'new Musketeers' of French tennis to retire.
Currently, only Gaël Monfils, who at 38 years old is still active and is scheduled to play against World No. 5 Jack Draper later in the evening, remains among his contemporaries.
Turning professional in 2002, Gasquet closed his career with 610 match victories over 23 years, setting a record for French players in the Open era that began in 1968. He reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2007 and 2015, and the US Open semifinals in 2013, as well as winning the Davis Cup with the French national team in 2017.
The match ended with scores of 6-3, 6-0, and 6-4 in favor of Sinner, who is ranked No. 1 in the world and will face Czech player Jiri Lehecka in the third round.
Gasquet, with an impressive tally of 16 ATP titles and three Grand Slam semifinal appearances, marked his presence at the French Open for the 22nd time, a record only matched previously by his compatriot Antoine Gentien, who competed in the first half of the 20th century.
Following the final match point, Gasquet received a standing ovation from the crowd, responding to the heartfelt recognition of his extensive career.
With tears in his eyes, he sat on the bench, awaiting a ceremony planned to honor his contributions to tennis.
In his post-match interview, Sinner acknowledged the generational differences, stating, "We belong to different generations."
Sinner expressed his admiration for Gasquet's career, remarking, "You played during an incredible era for tennis," referring to the dominance of players such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.
He celebrated Gasquet's achievements, saying, "Bravo for your exceptional career, for everything you have done.
This is your moment," as the tribute ceremony commenced.
Gasquet's retirement follows the departures of fellow French players Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon in 2022, marking him as the third of the so-called 'new Musketeers' of French tennis to retire.
Currently, only Gaël Monfils, who at 38 years old is still active and is scheduled to play against World No. 5 Jack Draper later in the evening, remains among his contemporaries.
Turning professional in 2002, Gasquet closed his career with 610 match victories over 23 years, setting a record for French players in the Open era that began in 1968. He reached the Wimbledon semifinals in 2007 and 2015, and the US Open semifinals in 2013, as well as winning the Davis Cup with the French national team in 2017.
