Gasquet's flame goes out: "I feel fortunate"
The Frenchman received a small tribute after falling in his last US Open. Two decades later, the end is closer than ever.
Richard Gasquet has been an essential name for tennis fans over the past two decades. An enduring talent, a beautiful one-handed backhand, and unparalleled aesthetics characterize a genuine figure. He was hailed as one of the greatest early talents in the history of this sport and managed to tailor his final career to lofty expectations.
The US Open has always been one of the tournaments where he shone the brightest. Witnessing the sensational one-handed backhand of the Béziers native under the lights of Flushing Meadows, in the deafening atmosphere of the "Concrete Jungle," was a great pleasure for many fans who attended the last Grand Slam of the year. However, all good things in life have an expiry date, and the Frenchman has bid a final farewell to the American tournament after a defeat in the second round of the qualifying phase.
The defeat was followed by a small tribute ceremony led by the tournament director. Perhaps, let me say, a somewhat anticlimactic ending for a circuit regular who reached the semifinals here. It was in 2013, and only an unstoppable Rafael Nadal stood in the way of the Frenchman. Regrets? Doubts? None of that: if there's one thing Gasquet, whose flame is slowly fading, is clear about nowadays, it's gratitude.
"I am truly fortunate. I have played on the best courts in New York, in front of the best fans. It has been the best atmosphere you can find on a tennis court, playing in front of 20,000 people on Center Court. I faced Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal, the best players here, and I am proud of the level I have shown in New York", he stated on ATP, not hiding his passion for this sport, a Gasquet who has accumulated 30 victories in Flushing Meadows and, although many may not know, was crowned... in the junior tournament back in 2002.
A SOMEWHAT BITTERSWEET ENDING
Not being able to say goodbye on a larger stage does leave a slightly bittersweet taste in Richard, who, nonetheless, is truly grateful to the tournament. "I will cherish these memories for a lifetime. It is a bit sad to finish this year like this, but I am very happy with how I played here, in New York. You play tennis to experience these kinds of feelings. Playing here was always electrifying". However, an official retirement date is still pending, which could come at Roland Garros 2025... or even earlier, at Paris-Bercy 2024. The days are dwindling to enjoy one of the last great one-handed backhands.
This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, La llama de Gasquet se apaga: "Me siento un afortunado"