Sinner Sends Favorite French Retiree Packing
French Open: Jannik Sinner Bids Farewell to French Tennis Legend Richard Gasquet
Melancholy hangs over the French Open as another tennis hero bids adieu. Former champion Stan Wawrinka bowed out earlier this week, and by the end of the opening week, a beloved French player said his final goodbyes.
Richard Gasquet, a fan favorite, faced a 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 defeat at the hands of Jannik Sinner in the second round, marking the end of a remarkable tennis career. "Today is Richard's moment. I want to congratulate you on a great career. You've achieved success in an incredible era of tennis," said Sinner, who, at 21, may soon become the first Italian to win in Paris since 1972.
Sinner, touting a world No. 1 ranking, will advance to the third round, potentially facing Alexander Zverev in the semifinals. His next opponent will be Jiri Lehecka, who outplayed Spanish 26th seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in their contest.
The Court Philippe Chatrier welcomed the South Tyrolean with warmth as Sinner, in his second Grand Slam match following a three-month doping ban, showed no signs of weakness. The crowd's hopes for a Gasquet upset were dashed quickly.
Gasquet, who served a brief ban in 2009 for a cocaine offense, leaves behind an impressive career marked by 16 ATP Tour titles, over 600 career wins, and a peak ranking of world No. 7. His highest Grand Slam achievement was reaching the semifinals at Wimbledon and the US Open. An emotional tribute was paid to Gasquet, who received a trophy containing a piece of the famed clay court.
In this bittersweet week for fans of one-handed backhands, former Paris champion Stan Wawrinka's unexpected exit leaves questions about his return to Roland Garros.
[1] ntv.de, sue/sid[2] atptour.com[3] tennis.com
Sources: ntv.de, sue/sid, atptour.com, tennis.com
The sports world mourns the retirement of Richard Gasquet, a fan-favorite French Open player, after his defeat in the second round by Jannik Sinner. Sinner's victory, in the realm of tennis, marks his advancement to the third round of the Grand Slam tournament.
