Richard Gasquet loses in the first round in Antwerp, a few days after announcing his future retirement

Le Français n’a pas été ridicule contre Etcheverry mais a fini par céder. MAXPPP – DAVID PINTENS

Richard Gasquet (135th in the world) lost 7-6 [4], 6-4 to Argentinian Tomas Etcheverry (35th) on Monday October 14 in the first round of the Antwerp tournament.

The 38-year-old from Sérignan, who announced last week that he would retire after the next Roland-Garros, held his own against Etcheverry, who was ranked much higher than him, but gave in at key moments in the match.

In the first set, Gasquet had managed to break away to take the Argentinian into a tie-break, but lost it 7-4.

Gasquet cracks at 4-4

“Richie” also cracked in the end of the second set, giving up his serve at 4-4. The Argentinian then easily finished with his serve.

Etcheverry, 25, could find another Frenchman in the second round, Luca Van Assche (119th), from the qualifiers, who will play Tuesday against the Spaniard Roberto Bautista (60th).