Gasquet, after his last match in Montpellier: “It was a great party”

Before retiring at the next Roland-Garros, Richard Gasquet was honoured in his native Occitanie after his last match in Montpellier.

Valentina Claret / Psnewz

Mathieu Canac

January 31, 2025

“I hope to finish (the year) in the top 100, otherwise it will be time to stop. I doubt I’ll continue to play in 2023. »

These were the words of Richard Gasquet after his “unhoped-for” victory, as he described it, against his compatriot Ugo Humbert in the first round of the 2022 Australian Open. In the end, his legs, now closer to the leg than to the legs – no one can resist the wear and tear of time – pushed him until 2025. With success, as he added a title to his list of achievements: the ATP 250 in Auckland in January 2023.

You have to know how to stop. (…) I’ve already taken things out enough

On Thursday night, after sweating blood and water to give Tallon Griekspoor a hard time, the nicknamed “Richie”, whose retirement is planned at Roland-Garros, played the last match of his career in Montpellier. The flagship tournament of his native Occitania. “You have to know how to stop, it was time to do it,” he said in a press conference. “I’ve already taken things out enough, I’m almost 39 years old (he was born in June).”

Carried by the stadium, the virtuoso of the one-handed backhand handled his stringed instrument brilliantly to finish on a good note, despite the defeat. “Lately, we have seen with some players that the level is not always there (at the very end of their career),” he said. “It didn’t happen, but I got the end I wanted, producing good tennis in front of a crowd (full house), my friends and my family. For that alone, it’s a success. »

Satisfied with his level

By “certain players”, the native of Sérignan probably thought of the Rafael Nadal monument, who appeared – unfortunately – in ruins against Botic van de Zandschulp during his last professional match. And, if the tribute ceremony that the Spaniard received had been somewhat disappointing, Gasquet, while waiting for the one at Roland-Garros, was touched by the one he was entitled to in the Hérault.

“It was a great party,” said the three-time winner of this ATP 250 which launched in 2010, a competition record tied with Gaël Monfils. “The audience, the video (that was broadcast), all that… It was well done, it made me happy. It was pleasant to live and that’s always important. »

I am certain that I will be in Marseille. For Monte-Carlo, I’m waiting.

To continue his farewell on the main circuit before bowing out on the ochre of the Porte d’Auteuil, the former world No. 7 has confirmed his presence in Marseille, hoping to also benefit from an invitation to Monte-Carlo. Where he had revealed himself to the world in 2002, still in his teens, at the age of 15, by beating Franco Squillari, semi-finalist at Roland-Garros two years earlier, before coming up against Marat Safin.

“Yes, I am sure that I will be in Marseille,” he revealed. “For Monte-Carlo, I’m waiting. But it’s here yet (qualification starts on April 5, tournament ends on April 13). Marseille is a tournament that is close to my heart (it will be his 14th participation, he played two semi-finals there). Monaco, I experienced a lot of emotions there.”

Monte-Carlo, the land of his first exploits

By reaching the quarter-finals in 2018, and 2007 after a Homeric run – victory 7-5 6-7(12) 7-6(3) in 3 hours 20 minutes against Fernando Verdasco in the first round, 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-5 in 2 hours 51 minutes against Ivan Ljubičić in the eighth final, then defeat 5-7, 7-5 6-2 in 2 hours 26 minutes against Juan Carlos Ferrero -, and, above all, a semi-final. In 2005, at the age of 18 and coming out of qualifying, he won an epic victory – 6-7(1), 6-2, 7-6(8) against Roger Federer, then No. 1 in the world rankings in 2005, before being stopped – 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-3 – by Nadal after another tussle engraved in the memory.

Following these results, he returned to the top 100 from which he only emerged almost 19 years later – 956 weeks – on January 15, 2024.