Gasquet thrilled with Roland Garros finale: 'It's the perfect end for me'

Match Reaction

Gasquet thrilled with Roland Garros finale: 'It's the perfect end for me'

Frenchman won 16 tour-level titles during his career

Peter Staples Richard Gasquet played his last professional match at Roland Garros on Thursday. By ATP Staff

Richard Gasquet won just seven games Thursday in his second-round match at Roland Garros against Jannik Sinner, but the Frenchman shared a wide smile with his home crowd as he departed Court Philippe-Chatrier.

His 22nd appearance in the main draw at the clay-court major was also the last tournament of the former No. 7 player in the PIF ATP Ranking’s career, and he was thrilled to compete on one of the sport’s most famous stages once more.

“I couldn't dream more to play on this court, Chatrier, against the No. 1 in the world. It's the perfect end for me. Of course, I would like to win, but it's not easy to win for me now against Sinner. He's No. 1 in the world,” Gasquet said. “But to finish there, I would sign when I start the tournament to finish on a packed court, on a packed Chatrier with the French crowd. It was full. Yeah, it's perfect for me.”

The 38-year-old broke onto the scene as a junior, so much so that he was on the cover of France’s Tennis Magazine as a nine-year-old. Gasquet set the record of youngest ATP Tour match winner as a 15-year-old — a mark he still holds — and more than 23 years later was still competing at the highest level.

“It's a little strange, because there is no stress tomorrow. There is no recovery. There is no training. There is no lawn tennis. So this is the most astonishing thing. I've got my mind just telling me that I've got to recover and rest,” Gasquet said. “But I'm very calm about the decision to stop, and I'm very happy to stop today on this court against the No. 1 in the world, the stadium, the court was full. It was good weather. I'm very happy.”

Gasquet has been able to play the best players in the world on the biggest courts throughout his career. The Frenchman reached three major semi-finals and won 16 ATP Tour titles during his illustrious career.

“I played all my life with a lot of crowd, and I tried my best to compete, and it was [an] amazing feeling to face these great players in great arenas, in Roland Garros, US Open, Wimbledon. I was really fortunate and really lucky to just play tennis on the circuit for a long time,” Gasquet said. “Of course, I have great memories. I'm retiring now. It's a little bit weird for me. I played all my life. But it's tennis. You have to stop one day.”

The two-time Nitto ATP Finals competitor explained that he considers himself lucky to have reached the level he did and played on the stages he did across the world.

“I always wanted to do that when I was younger. So emotionally, I'm stopping today. I have wonderful memories for the rest of my life, and that's the main thing,” Gasquet said. “Of course there are matches that you'd love to play again. Some matches I have lost that I would have liked to have won. But I'm lucky to have had a wonderful career and that I was able to fulfill myself as a tennis player.”

Gasquet is universally respected by his peers, and Sinner remained on court to pay his respects to the one-handed backhand artist after the match, when Roland Garros hosted an emotional ceremony paying tribute to the 38-year-old. Rafael Nadal, who grew up with Gasquet, shared his thoughts on social media.

The Spaniard wrote: “Dear @richardgasquet1... Since we were kids we have shared so many moments together on and off the court. Hundreds of tournaments, cities, matches... Throughout your great career your talent has been recognized worldwide and I am happy that today you were able to say goodbye to tennis in such a special place as @rolandgarros. I wish you all the best in the future!”

Gasquet will not pick up his racquet again professionally. But just like he loved hitting the tennis ball from a young age, the Frenchman with the most tour-level wins on record according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index (610) looks forward to playing for fun.

“When I was a child I did it. So now I will do it again just for the love of tennis and just to play tennis, you know, even if it's not professional. There is still a life for me, even if I stopped,” Gasquet said. “I don't know when or what I will do exactly in the future, but just to play tennis with friends, it's enough. I'm just happy, as I said. I'm very lucky just to be in a good health now, even if I'm stopping and I'm 39 soon. I just like to play tennis.”

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