Richard Gasquet after the announcement of his future retirement: “Fortunately, I beat Rafael Nadal by a few hours”

On Thursday, Gasquet and Nadal announced their future retirements at the same time. EPA – IAN LANGSDON

A few days after announcing his future retirement the day after Roland-Garros in 2025, Richard Gasquet looked back on his career and his decision, made the same day as Rafael Nadal's, as an incredible symbol.

The phone must have rung a lot since Thursday and your announcement, no ?

Yeah, I received quite a few things. It's a new experience, let's say. Obviously, it was the right time to announce it, but yes, it's always a bit weird.

Did a message in particular stand out to you??

No, but there are quite a few guys who are nice, who have sent me nice messages. So pretty much everyone, no one in particular, but more in general. I feel that people are happy and so it's nice.

Rafael Nadal sent you a message or not at all ?

No no (laughs). He already takes care of himself, it's not easy. That he does it during the day at the same time, I admit that it's a coincidence that is quite incredible, that's for sure. We played together for 25 years and we said it on the same day. It's true that it was weird for me. It was a rather nice wink all the same (laughs). The probability was low.

Your destinies will have been linked until the end, did that make you smile ?

Yes, it made me smile, it was funny. I certainly didn't expect it at all. But for me, it was a little more in the morning. Fortunately, I got there a few hours ahead of him. It was nice, I said it earlier.

“I participated in the most beautiful era of tennis”

How do you feel about this comparison with hindsight after all these years ?

He's the best player of all time, almost. So you say bravo. At the beginning, it was more annoying at 16, 17 years old because you see that the guy progresses quickly. The comparison is hard to maintain, but now that it's over, I'm happy to have still been part of that generation, which was huge. Djokovic, Federer who was a little older, Nadal, who always played… It was brutal. It's the least we can say. Afterwards, it was the golden age of tennis, there were still some huge players. It remains an era that was incredible.

You are proud to have participated in it and to play great matches against them ?

Yes, there is a bit of that, yes. I participated in the most beautiful era of tennis, almost. It was something incredible. I was able to play all these players a lot of times. It's incredible to have been able to play at that same time. Afterwards, it was difficult, the three Grand Slam semi-finals, I played against the three best players of all time so it's not easy. But that's the way it is and there's something beautiful about it too.

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Did you have a trigger this summer to make your decision ?

I knew I wanted to stop at Roland-Garros no matter what. For a French player, I think it's still the best place to stop. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga did it, others have done it at Bercy too. I also thought about doing it there at the end of the season. But I told myself that I wanted to do it at Roland-Garros, it's still the biggest tournament in France. It's still in eight months, I'll be 39 years old… It was obvious. It wasn't too difficult to do it. I can't go any further than that.

You were relieved to make that decision to quit ?

Not more than that, no. When I started the season, I knew I was going to hold out until Roland-Garros in 2025, so it's been in my head for a while. Announcing it is a little different because everyone knows it now.

Who was in the know ?

Julien my coach, my parents… That's about it.

Your love of the game couldn't resist being out of the top 100, playing in the Challenger tournaments?

No, but that's the level. I'm 130th in the world, I'll be 39 next year! I can't do more, it's not possible. I've played for almost 24 years on the circuit, it's not possible anymore. I don't see what more I can do. But it will be a pleasure for me to play one last tournament in Montpellier too, Monaco maybe Marseille. There are plenty of tournaments like that that I want to play again.

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You called everyone to get wild cards ?

In Montpellier, I think it will be fine, Roland-Garros too because it's my last. We'll see what happens.

You also had this fear of ending up injured like Andy Murray for example or even Rafael Nadal who…

I still have it, wait I'm not done yet. But yes it's something that scares me to have to stop because of an injury, to not be able to take advantage of the situation. Yes, it's something that always scares me a little.

You think about it in your head?

Yes because you never know. I hope I can have a great party, play great matches. Yes, it's something that's important. You never know with this kind of thing, you have to be careful. There are still eight months left so that's a lot.

Are you happy with the adjustments made to last so long ?

I did the best I could to last as long as possible at a high level. I started at 16, I'll be 39 next year. I've had to adjust my whole career and I'm definitely proud of what I've been able to do because it's been a long process.

Also read: “Richard Gasquet, it's as if we saw him born here”: at his home in Sérignan, an entire town remembers the prodigy

Concerning the future, do you see yourself training, rather young people ?

We'll see what happens, yes, if I can of course. It's something that's important. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga does it, it's good to pass on as much as possible to those who want it, it's always about giving a little experience. First I'm going to try to finish well and then we'll see.

You've already organized the football match and booked your golf game after your last match ?

Yes, the day after the match I'll play a 90-minute match straight away (laughs). And golf, in the afternoon, that's for sure.

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