At 38 years old, the French player, celebrated for his remarkable one-handed backhand, announced to L’Equipe on Thursday that he will retire after the French Open, performing in front of his home crowd.
“I’ll be stopping at Roland Garros next year,” Gasquet stated. “I believe this is the right moment for me. It’s the ideal tournament for my farewell. It’s a fantastic event, and we are fortunate as Frenchmen to retire in such extraordinary surroundings. The conclusion is always challenging, as many former greats have shared with me. You can never predict when, how, or where it will happen. For me, it was clear.”
Gasquet achieved a career-high ranking of No. 7 in 2007 and was once seen as a potential Grand Slam champion, yet he never advanced beyond the semifinals in any major tournament.
He reached the semifinals at Wimbledon on two occasions and also made it to the semifinals at the U.S. Open. Over his career, he secured 16 Tour titles, with his most recent victory occurring last year in Auckland, and he was part of the French team that clinched the Davis Cup in 2017.
Following the paths of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Gilles Simon, he becomes the third member of a talented generation of French players, which also includes Gaël Monfils, to announce his retirement nearly 20 years after their emergence.
Currently ranked No. 133, Gasquet reflected on his lengthy career, which began at the age of three with his father, Francis, who managed a tennis club.
“I find it strange to compete against 18-19 year olds,” he remarked. “Nineteen years younger is astonishing. Very few players reach the age of 38.”
Since turning professional, Gasquet has participated in 1,005 matches, winning his first Tour match at the age of 16 during the Monte-Carlo Masters in 2002. Years earlier, at just nine years old, he graced the cover of Tennis Magazine, which posed the question: “The champion that France is waiting for?”
Upon turning professional, Gasquet found himself often compared to the rising star, Rafael Nadal.
While Nadal went on to secure his legacy as one of the greatest players in tennis history, Gasquet struggled to meet the high expectations set for him, failing to secure a victory against Nadal in their 18 encounters on the main tour.
In his memoirs, Gasquet reflected, “It’s a privilege to have been compared, even briefly, to Rafael Nadal, one of the sport's all-time legends. I genuinely view it as a significant honor. Yet, it has also caused me considerable pain.”
Nadal's presence loomed large throughout Gasquet's career. Just hours after Gasquet announced his retirement, Nadal also revealed his decision to step away from the sport.
Looking ahead, Gasquet expressed his intention to pursue studies at a management school and to mentor young athletes.
“I’ve enjoyed a successful career as a player, and now it’s time to prepare for the next chapter,” Gasquet stated.