Tennis Player Jannik Sinner Sends Favorite French Tennis Veteran Packing
Farewell to French Favorite Richard Gasquet at the French Open
Melancholy pervaded the French Open as another champion bids adieu. Earlier this week, Stan Wawrinka said his final goodbyes, potentially for good. By the end of the first week, a beloved fan favorite follows suit. Richard Gasquet exited in the second round, marking the end of an era.
Jannik Sinner ruthlessly ended the career of France's adored Richard Gasquet and effortlessly progressed to the third round of the French Open. The top-ranked player dispatched the impending 39-year-old veteran 6-3, 6-0, 6-4, inching closer to becoming the first Italian to win in Paris since 1972. "Today belongs to Richard. I want to congratulate you on an exceptional career. You've accomplished great things in a remarkable epoch of tennis," Sinner said, as he was just a year old when Gasquet played his initial ATP Tour match.
Sinner, who could face Alexander Zverev in the semifinals, will next face Czech Jiri Lehecka, who defeated Spanish number 26 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2.
A Beautiful Farewell on Philippe Chatrier Court
Despite playing his second Grand Slam match following a three-month doping ban, Sinner showed no sign of vulnerability on Court Philippe Chatrier. The spectators warmly welcomed the South Tyrolean yet again. The hopeful Parisians dreaming of an unlikely upset were unrealistic.
Gasquet, who served a brief ban in 2009 for a cocaine offense, clinched 16 ATP tournaments throughout his career and peaked at a ranking of world No. 7 in July 2007. His most notable Grand Slam results were semifinals at Wimbledon and the US Open. Gasquet received an emotional tribute on the grand Paris court, receiving a trophy encapsulating a piece of the most renowned clay court in the world.
For enthusiasts of captivating one-handed backhands, the French Open has been a sorrowful week. Apart from Paris champion Stan Wawrinka who already lost in the first round, his return to Roland Garros remains uncertain.
Source: ntv.de, sue/sid
[^1]: Richard Gasquet - Career Statistics[^2]: Richard Gasquet's 2023 French Open Exit: The End of an Era?[^3]: Richard Gasquet - Tennis Career Highlights and Records
Richard Gasquet's tennis career came to an end on Court Philippe Chatrier, as Jannik S inner, a top-ranked player, eliminated the French favorite in straight sets at the French Open. The emotional tribute received by Gasquet, who served a doping ban in 2009, encapsulated a piece of the most renowned clay court in the world.
With Gasquet's exit and Stan Wawrinka's uncertain return, fans of captivating one-handed backhands have experienced a sorrowful week at the French Open.
