Tennis veteran Richard Gasquet, once a child prodigy and now a symbol of enduring professionalism, bids farewell to the sport at Roland-Garros.
French tennis player Richard Gasquet, a two-time junior and mixed doubles champion at Roland-Garros, closed his 23-year professional career with a defeat in the second round of the Paris Grand Slam tournament. On Thursday, May 29, Gasquet, aged 38 and from Béziers, faced off against Italian Jannik Sinner and lost 6-3, 6-0, 6-4.
Gasquet had earlier overcome Terry Atmane in his opening match, setting up a highly anticipated clash with world number one, scheduled for the Philippe-Chatrier court. The Italian was expected to win the match, and Gasquet, aware of the odds, found joy in competing in a potential last match, remarking the occasion as "beautiful" for his final stage in the sport.
Having sustained a muscle injury in his calf a few weeks before Roland-Garros, Gasquet was content to bid farewell on the court, rather than end his career with a notice published on social media. Throughout his career, Gasquet has accumulated 600 matches and won 16 ATP singles titles, all at the ATP 250 level. He reached the French No. 1 position and is known for his graceful one-handed backhand. Despite facing top players like Rafael Nadal, he has yet to defeat the Spaniard in their head-to-head encounters.
While Gasquet did not claim a Grand Slam title during his career, his impact on French tennis remains significant. His lasting career marked him as a longevity role model, proving that success is indeed achievable with dedication and persistence.
Additional Results
In other Roland-Garros 2025 updates, Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek qualified for the tournament, with Quentin Halys facing Holger Rune in the third round. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard was defeated in his match.
Richard Gasquet, a veteran tennis player with a storied career, expressed his joy for potentially playing his final match in the sport, noting the upcoming clash with the world number one as "beautiful." Despite the expected loss to the Italian, Gasquet found satisfaction in participating in a match that could be his swansong, especially considering his previous triumphs in sports, including tennis.
