Throughout his career, Richard Gasquet won two titles at Roland-Garros. “But the two that are worthless,” joked the Biterrois [native of Béziers] before the start of the 2025 event. Winner of the junior tournament in 2002 and the mixed doubles in 2004 with his compatriot Tatiana Golovin, the tennis player never lifted the Coupe des Mousquetaires, awarded to the winner of the men’s singles. On Thursday, May 29, the Frenchman drew the curtain on 23 years of professional tennis, losing (6-3, 6-0, 6-4) to Italy’s Jannik Sinner in the second round of the Paris Grand Slam.
A child prodigy who became a model of longevity, Gasquet waited until he was 38 to put his rackets away for good, choosing Porte d’Auteuil as the scene for his final act. By beating Térence Atmane in his opening match, the player known for his elegant backhand even earned himself a prestigious send-off: a match against the world number one on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
But no one was fooled: The Italian was expected to emerge victorious from this clash. Gasquet likely knew it himself. “It’s a great matchup when you’re at the end of your career and maybe playing your last match,” he explained after his first-round victory. Having suffered a calf muscle injury just weeks before the French Open began, Gasquet already considered himself lucky to be able to say “goodbye” with a racket in hand. For this tennis lover, ending his career with a medical statement posted on social media would have been unbearable.
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