“Honestly, it’s been a great adventure”: before the Open Sud de France, Richard Gasquet looks back on a career that he wants to stretch even further

Le Sérignanais Richard Gasquet se donne encore plusieurs mois avant d'arrêter sa carrière. Midi Libre – Alexandre Dimou/Alexpress

Opposed to a qualified player on Tuesday January 30 for his entry into the running at the Open Sud de France in Montpellier, Richard Gasquet returned on this occasion to his long career at a high level and the follow-up to be given to it.

What would you like to say to young Richard Gasquet if you could give him a word at the very beginning of his career ? 

I'd tell him to have fun. While there were more difficult moments with waiting and pressure on our shoulders. To think about all that as little as possible. With the experience I have today, it's something I would be a little better able to handle.

When we see your level of play proposed in the match against Alcaraz in Australia, it makes you want to continue a little longer ? 

Yes but it's still just one set, it's not crazy. But it was a  beautiful set, there were lots of people, lots of encouragement. It was nice for sure. I know I can still play well. Obviously, on a physical level, it's not the most obvious, I'm turning 38 this year. But hey, you never know what could happen. I'm going to do my best to play well here in Montpellier and then in Marseille to try to have a good season and try to push back a little, we'll see if I'm capable of it.

Richard Gasquet regarde Carlos Alcaraz dans les yeux (à l'image de ce superbe revers 🤤), mais ça n'a pas suffi pour prendre le premier set…

Le choc en direct : https://t.co/J88IHJWIxr #AusOpen #HomeOfTennis pic.twitter.com/fMnIX0AFL1

— Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) January 16, 2024

Will there be a deadline to get back into the top 100 before stopping ? 

No, I'll see with time. But obviously if I vegetate for too long it can be difficult but we'll see, I'm only at the beginning. We'll see how far I play, if I play well if it becomes difficult… There are quite a few things possible.

This record of 956 consecutive weeks in the top 100 lost, it was a blow to your morale or it remains a source of pride ?

I got there so it will stay no matter what. Going down the rankings is never fun for a competitor. But these are things that inevitably happen one day. It's there, now it's up to me to try to climb back to try to get back into the top 100 even if it's not going to be easy.

Are we thinking a little more about the end of our career?? 

It had to happen, it came very late anyway, I thought it would be sooner. I don't ask myself any more questions than that, play as much as I can in the tournaments to come. For now it's hard to go down but it had to happen.

Also read: Richard Gasquet, beaten by Arthur Fils, leaves the top 100 for the first time in 956 weeks

Where would you like to finish your career ?

At Roland-Garros or Bercy. No longer Roland obviously, but after Bercy, Gilles Simon stopped there, there was a magnificent tournament. So one of those two there. 

What was your secret to such longevity ? 

It was my passion for the game that made me think of that. I had a lot of desire, day after day, to try to progress then recover to go back and win matches. It's a circle that never stops and I have managed to do it throughout these years. Playing tennis takes up all your time, so you only have to think about that and I managed to do that throughout all its seasons. And this passion kept me going for so long because at 33 or 34 you can quickly break down.

And this passion is still there or it has faded ? 

No she's still there, it's the level that's more difficult. And then you play young people all the time so it's not always easy but the passion follows you even after the end of your career.

What advice would you give to the young generation who are starting to achieve results like Fils, Van Assche or Cazaux ? 

Keep this passion for the game, have it in mind and dedicate yourself only to that. We see it with Sinner which is a perfect example or Rune. Have that thing in you, passionate, a fighter to try to exploit your potential to the maximum. Because they all have them, they play very well. It will be their daily investment and this dedication whether they will be good or very very good players. 

Also read: Tennis. "I didn't feel grotesque", "maybe I won't play here again" : Richard Gasquet reacts to his elimination from the Australian Open

They are on the right track ? 

Yes, I think they have something. But tennis is an eternal beginning again. Arthur Cazaux finished eighth in Melbourne, we will have to return to the fight here, it never stops. You have to go up, confirm against players waiting for you behind but they have everything to succeed. 

What memories will you keep of the Open Sud de France ? 

Great memories. I made six finals in a row, which is a lot. I beat a lot of very good players Gaël Monfils, David Goffin… When I made quarter in 2012, I would never have imagined making six finals in a row behind. I did well here because I liked the room, the playing conditions and I always enjoyed playing here. 

Do you know if this is your last Open ?

No, I have no idea, everything is possible and conceivable. Everything will depend on where I finish this season… 140, 150th will be too complicated. But for the moment I don't really ask myself the question. The one I have to ask myself is try to win this match on Tuesday. 

Have you ever thought about post-career ?

No, not at all, certainly in tennis, but I don't have any particular pressure to tell myself what I'm going to do. I try not to look too much in front of me, to know when I will stop because it can take my mind. These are thoughts that can be parasitic so there's no point in having them. First this first round, then Marseille and we will try to move forward little by little.

What is the first thing you will do after you retire ? 

I will play a football match. I don't play it, I'm afraid of hurting my ankles or doing stupid things. When you're old enough or even young, try not to do too many things on the side so as not to hurt yourself. But I miss a football match, it’s been around ten years since I played one. So I'll play football, that's clear, and golf too. But that's also why I managed to last a long time because I forbade myself a lot of other things.

What will you miss and not miss as a tennis player ? 

The matches obviously, the adrenaline, the big matches with the public like in Rolland. Everyone misses it, there's not a guy who hasn't felt it, these are things that are so enormous in terms of sensation that it's inevitably missed. After the training, the defeats, the trips it wasn’t easy either. 

Is there an engraved memory of these moments with the public ?

The matches at Roland-Garros, the US Open, the Davis Cups that we were able to do in Lille for example. I don't have one more than others.

How would you like people to remember you ? As one of the most beautiful backs on the circuit ?

People know me a lot for that, everyone recognizes me for the backhand. It's good, there aren't many one-handed backhands, it's an aspect that is technical and looked at. And I like the technicality of sport, football, tennis, rugby… So it makes me happy. 

Do you think people have been too hard on you throughout your career ? 

It was hard with the others too, whether it was Tsonga, Monfils… It wasn't always easy, we needed another Grand Slam winner. But it was complicated with the players behind like Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, even Murray. It was very, very difficult, it was an immense challenge. But the people are nice nonetheless. It weighed on me a little when I was young but that's okay, overall we were supported a lot, from start to finish, like in the Davis Cup. Honestly, it’s been a great adventure. 

What thing makes you most proud if you look at your career ? 

Longevity, having been able to have a career in tennis. I started when I was very young in Béziers, I always wanted to be a professional. I watched Roland-Garros on TV, I was able to have that career myself. I was able to live from it, travel and play big matches. It's a great reward and a chance to have been able to experience all that. 

I subscribe to read more