Rafael Nadal Leads Tributes to Richard Gasquet on Retirement Day
The tennis world bid a fond farewell to Richard Gasquet on Thursday as the Frenchman brought the curtain down on his illustrious career with a straight-set defeat to top seed Jannik Sinner at the French Open.
As reported by the Express, Gasquet ended his career on home soil, a fitting conclusion to a remarkable journey that has spanned over two decades. The 38-year-old was honoured in an emotional on-court ceremony, which included a touching video message from 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.
The two old rivals have a long history, having faced each other in childhood events. Nadal took to social media to pay tribute to Gasquet, sharing a series of photos of the pair over the years. "Dear @richardgasquet34… Since we were kids we have shared so many moments together on and off the court," Nadal wrote. "Hundreds of tournaments, cities, matches… Throughout your great career your talent has been recognised worldwide and I am happy that today you were able to say goodbye to tennis in such a special place as @rolandgarros. I wish you all the best in the future!" (Source: Express)
Nadal also appeared in a montage of tributes alongside Sinner, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Gael Monfils, among others. In the video, he said: "Hey Richard, first of all, many congratulations on your amazing career. I can’t forget all those years we were small kids, just trying to follow our dreams. For me, it has been a great pleasure to be your rival, to be your friend. You have a friend here for whatever you need and I hope to be able to see each other very often again." (Source: Express)
Gasquet scored a win in his final-ever tournament when he beat countryman Terence Atmane in four sets on Monday, even bagelling him in front of a packed Court Philippe-Chatrier crowd. He also showed flashes of brilliance against Sinner, bringing out his trademark one-handed backhand and firing some winners across the court before he ultimately suffered a 6-3 6-0 6-4 defeat.
Sinner paid tribute to the retiring Frenchman on the court before the ceremony took place. “For me, it’s very difficult to talk now but congrats to your amazing career,” he told Gasquet. “You gave so much for this amazing crowd, for this home crowd. Congrats to your family, to your team, it’s amazing.” (Source: Express)
The emotional ceremony saw Gasquet’s loved ones become overwhelmed with emotion as tournament director Amelie Mauresmo and French Tennis Federation president Gilles Moretton presented him with a trophy while a career highlight reel was played on the court. After walking off the court, the 38-year-old said: “I couldn’t have dreamt of a better end, because, you know, you never know what could happen on your last tournament. It’s not always easy everywhere, every day. So to finish today on Chatrier against the No. 1 in the world, it’s a wonderful end for me. So I’m very happy with what I was able to do for this tournament.” (Source: Express)
The French Open, or Roland-Garros, has been a fitting venue for Gasquet to bow out, having been a part of some of the most memorable moments in tennis history. As the tennis world says goodbye to one of its most beloved players, Nadal’s heartfelt message serves as a testament to Gasquet’s enduring legacy on and off the court. According to the Express, Gasquet’s career has been recognised worldwide, and his retirement marks the end of an era for French tennis. (Source: Express)
In a career spanning over 20 years, Gasquet has achieved numerous milestones, including 16 ATP titles and a ranking of world No. 7. As reported by the Express, his retirement has sparked an outpouring of tributes from the tennis community, with many of his peers and rivals paying homage to his remarkable career. (Source: Express)
