Gasquet, prepared for retirement: "You have to know when to stop, and this was the moment to do it"

Raquel Bermúdez Rodríguez | 31 Jan 2025 | 14.43

Richard Gasquet talks about the end of his career as a professional player. Photo: Getty

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Richard Gasquet surprised the entire world a few months ago, in October, when he announced that despite saying that 2024 would be his final hour, he would continue playing on the circuit, postponing a retirement that he continues to approach. The Frenchman confessed that his goal was to try to reach Roland Garros 2025, where it is understood he will bid a definitive farewell to the circuit as a professional player. There are still weeks to find out if that happens, but what Richard knows now is that he played in Montpellier for the last time.

"Tennis is a complicated sport where there is no tie, you have to win or lose," Gasquet explained in statements to L'Equipe. "You have to know when to stop and this was the moment to do it. That's life. I have pushed things quite far at almost 39 years old. You never know how it will end. Lately we have seen with certain players that the level is not always there. You never know what might happen. The victory didn't happen, but I achieved the ending I wanted (in Montpellier), playing good tennis in front of my friends and family. Just for that, it was a complete success."

Uncertainty about his future

"In Marseille, I will play; for Monte Carlo, I am waiting. There is still some time left for that. I knew these four tournaments would be important. Marseille is a tournament close to my heart. I have experienced many emotions in Monaco. And Roland Garros, of course. I passed the first phase in Montpellier. I will treasure the memories I have here and move on to the next stage."

The most special memories

"I played in all the clubs in the region when I was a child, so a professional tournament here in 2010 was great, and winning here three times (in 2013, 2015, and 2016) is a very special memory for me. I won't play here again, it's very special, but I wasn't injured, I played well, and that's how I wanted it to end. Ending well is complicated. You don't know in which tournament you will end, if you will hit the mark in the last match... We know the level is lower, so there is that fear, yes."

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Gasquet, preparado para la retirada: "Hay que saber cuándo parar y este era el momento de hacerlo"

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