Tennis Player Jannik Sinner is Sending France's Beloved, formerly Active but Emotionally Absent Rather, Back into Melancholy
French Tennis Legend Richard Gasquet Bows Out at the French Open
The curtains came down on the illustrious career of Richard Gasquet at the 2025 French Open, as the long-standing French favorite exited in the second round. Jannik Sinner, the young Italian contender, handed Gasquet a poignant farewell, securing a straight-set victory to advance to the third round.
Melancholy hung over Court Philippe Chatrier, as Gasquet ended his 24-year professional journey, leaving an indelible mark on French tennis. Earlier in the week, Stan Wawrinka, another French star, bid farewell to the tournament, potentially capping the end of an era.
Sinner, at the tender age of 22, demonstrated a resilient performance, barely faltering under the sentiment-filled atmosphere. The crowd warmly welcomed the South Tyrolean once more, despite the Parisians' hopes of a fairytale comeback for Gasquet fading away.
The world number one defeated the soon-to-be 39-year-old veteran 6-3, 6-0, 6-4, marking a significant step towards his first Paris triumph since 1976, an Italian first. "Today is Richard's day," said Sinner, acknowledging the historical chapter closing before his eyes, as Gasquet had been on the tour when Sinner was just a year old.
Sinner's next opponent, Jiri Lehecka from the Czech Republic, is awaiting him in the third round. Lehecka edged past the 26th-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in four sets.
In an emotional tribute on court, Gasquet received a trophy adorned with a piece of the world's most famous clay court. TheánRecognized for his striking one-handed backhand that had captivated the tennis world, Gasquet amassed an impressive resume during his career.
Gasquet won 609 tour-level matches, the most for any French player in the Open Era, and collected 16 ATP singles titles. He reached a career-high ATP singles ranking of world No. 7 in July 2007. In the Grand Slam arena, Gasquet never obtained his ultimate victory, losing three singles semifinals: twice at Wimbledon (2007 and 2015) and once at the US Open (2013).
Remarkably, Gasquet's career unfolded within the shadow of the dominance of tennis titans Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Roger Federer. Even though he claimed victories against Djokovic and Federer, he lost all 18 of his ATP Head2Head matchups against Nadal, institutionalizing a legacy filled with near-misses at major tournaments.
Gasquet's tenure in professional tennis spanned over two decades before his retirement at the 2025 French Open, cementing his status as one of France's greatest tennis players. His departure marks the conclusion of an era for French tennis, leaving behind memories of a stylish game and a resilient career.
[Sources: ntv.de, sue/sid]
Sports mourn the departure of Richard Gasquet, a French tennis legend, following his exit in the second round of the 2025 French Open. The Italian contender, Jannik Sinner, advanced to the third round, marking the end of Gasquet's 24-year professional tennis career in which he left an indelible mark on the sport and France.
