Gasquet: “Alcaraz will be a new Federer and Nadal, I have no doubts”

As per tennis veteran Richard Gasquet, the racquet sport’s future is bright even without greats like Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic with Carlos Alcaraz capable of filling in their shoes.

Gasquet, aged 38, has set foot in Paris as a wildcard for the concluding ATP Masters 1000 event of 2024, a year that has seen none of the Big Three lift a Grand Slam trophy for the first time since 2002. With Federer already retired, Nadal about to call it a day in November, and Djokovic fading away gradually, the tennis community looks forward to what’s in store apprehensively.

However, the Frenchman has put his faith in Alcaraz, already a four-time Major champion.

“We often said, me first, 25 years ago: ‘Tennis will no longer be the same without Agassi, without Sampras, without Kuerten,’” Gasquet told media houses, including Tennis Majors, on the eve of 2024 Paris Masters. “Then we had Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, an extraordinary era.

“Alcaraz is no mean feat,” he continued, referring to the world number two, the first man to win at least one Grand Slam on three different surfaces at the age of 21. “When I see him play, when I see his attitude, his level of play, it’s crazy. I tell myself that this player will be a new Federer and Nadal, I have no doubts.”

Gasquet opined Alcaraz, along with Italian Jannik Sinner, will take tennis to unprecedented heights.

“Sinner is playing very well too,” Gasquet said of the world number one. “He’s a big player and there are more to come. They’re going to be the two best players in the world over the next fifteen years. They have an incredible level, they play very fast, they’re raising the level of tennis even further.

“Djokovic is still around more or less, but we’re going to be seeing a lot more of both of them. There are a lot of people in the stands and tennis will continue to be like that for the next 15 years. These two are going to raise the level of the sport.”

Gasquet takes on Cobolli in Paris Masters 1R

Notably, Gasquet is competing at the Paris Masters for the final time in his career, having declared the 2025 French Open as his farewell tournament. The Frenchman will start his campaign against Italian Flavio Cobolli in the first round.

The 38-year-old debuted in Paris in 2003. Since then, he has campaigned there 15 more times, with a run to the semi-finals in 2007 and to the quarter-finals in 2013 and 2015 being his notable performances. In 2023, he exited the event from the first round after losing to American Tommy Paul (0-6, 6-2, 7-6 (6)).

Sinner and Alcaraz, on the other hand, have received byes in the first round, with the world No 1 set to face American Ben Shelton or Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime and the Spaniard awaiting Nicolas Jarry or a qualifier in the second round. Djokovic, the defending champion, has opted out of the title defence.

You might also like this

Gasquet announces retirement after Roland-Garros 2025

tennis majors

Nadal’s retirement overshadowed Gasquet’s – but the Frenchman never wanted the limelight

tennis majors

Straightforward for Alcaraz, tough for Sinner: what you need to know about the Rolex Paris Masters draw – updated

tennis majors

Alcaraz v Sinner: Head-to-head, stats, all you need to know about their rivalry – updated after Six Kings Slam final

tennis majors