You might also like
Since he was very young, nothing has been easy for him: Richard has had to face crazy expectations.
Rafael Nadal
As if fate, teasingly, had wanted to wink at the careers of those nicknamed “Richie” and “Rafa” until the end. They who, precocious talents compared to the time when the left-hander was adorned with a bowl cut, have forged unbreakable bonds. To the point that Marjorquin was one of the few to publicly support the native of Béziers when he tested positive for cocaine in 2009, before being cleared.
Statements that Gasquet has never forgotten. Many years later, he asked Nadal to write the preface to his autobiography, Against all oddspublished in 2023. “So, yes, he (Richard Gasquet) could perhaps have won even more than he did”, expressed the emperor of Roland-Garros in it. “But, since he was very young, nothing has been easy for him: Richard has had to face crazy expectations.”
Richard Gasquet, in our interview Major Talk in 2020
Gasquet, childhood in the spotlight
“I can imagine quite well how difficult it must be for a child to cope with the enthusiasm of an entire nation,” he added. “What he produced never seemed to be what the fans expected. To be able to get through it, he had to demonstrate great mental strength: maintaining such a solid level for years is a challenge that few players manage to overcome. Richard can be proud of his long and incredible career.”
Remaining in the ATP top 100 for 956 consecutive weeks – only Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have done better – the man with the one-handed backhand blessed by the tennis gods was put in the spotlight long before to reach the elite. At 9 years old, he was propelled to the cover of Tennis Magazine while he and his family only thought they were the subject of a report destined to remain confined to the inside pages.
The “shame” felt when seeing yourself on the cover of Tennis Magazine at age 9
An episode badly experienced by the kid from Sérignan. To the point of experiencing, as he himself confided, a feeling of “shame” upon discovering himself on the front page on the day of release. Because he was never attracted to light. When the spotlight was on him, he tried to turn away from it. Or even run away from them.
“I’ve been doing the show since I was 7“, recalled Gasquet, now 38 years old, in his book written by Franck Ramella, journalist at The Team. “Every time I played at a club for a tournament, we could count 200 people around the court. I didn’t like those eyes on me.” And the years have not managed to erase this character trait, traced with an indelible marker in his DNA.
I systematically went to the toilet at that time. I was hiding! And I waited until class was far away to resume training.
Richard Gasquet
“At college, I was exempt from PE to be able to devote myself to tennis,” he also confided. “When my class left for this hour of sports, they passed along a path that overlooked the court. I saw them all coming, and you can’t imagine how much that bothered me. I didn’t want to see them, I didn’t want them to see me. So I systematically went to the bathroom at that time. I was hiding! And I waited until class was far away to resume training.“
Upon hearing the announcement of the Transpyrénéen’s retirement, the Habs’ inner child undoubtedly felt relief. Thanks to Rafael Nadal, this light, almost perceived as the laser aim of a sniper, only remained focused on him for a short time. If some people thrive on fame, the former 7th player in the world never wanted to attract it. She came to get him, as an impossible opponent to fight. One of the few that Richard Gasquet has never been able to take from behind.
You might also like
Gasquet bids farewell to the Antwerp tournament, beaten by Etcheverry
tennis majors
Gasquet on Nadal: “Such a strong and powerful forehand, I have never seen something like it in history”
tennis majors
Coach’s Eye #86: “If anyone can say they have no regrets because they gave everything, it’s Nadal”
tennis majors
Djokovic, Federer, Laver, Alcaraz, Swiatek, Sinner… The tennis world pays tribute to Nadal
tennis majors
April 15, 2005: The day 18-year-old Gasquet beat Federer in the quarter-finals in Monte Carlo
tennis majors
