Another recent chapter in tennis history is coming to a close. Richard Gasquet suffered a defeat in the opening round of the ATP 250 tournament in Marseille at the hands of Roberto Bautista-Agut from Spain, with a final score of 6-3 7-5. This marks Gasquet’s ninth consecutive loss in the first round on the ATP circuit, a disappointing outcome for the 37-year-old French player.
Gasquet’s ranking has plummeted to 131st place, a far cry from his career-high position of seventh in 2007. In fact, he has lost in the first round of 16 out of the last 18 tournaments he has participated in. The decline in his performance has been evident since the end of August, following the ATP 250 tournament before the US Open in Winston Salem, where he hasn’t been able to secure a victory at the ATP level.
In recent weeks, Gasquet has faced numerous inquiries from journalists regarding his potential retirement. In response, he explained that he believes one should not endure unnecessary suffering on the court, and physical pain would be the determining factor for him to consider stepping away from the sport. If he reaches a point where he feels unable to win matches or experiences significant discomfort, he would choose to retire. However, if he believes he can still contribute, he would even consider playing in Challenger events.
Gasquet acknowledges that winning matches is essential to maintain motivation and the desire to continue playing. If tennis becomes solely a physical struggle, he believes it is time to call it quits. As a French player, he admits that there is a certain allure to retiring either at the Roland Garros or Paris Bercy, but he hasn’t dwelled on the idea too much.
Gasquet’s situation is not unique, as many players facing similar challenges have contemplated retirement in recent times. Over the past two decades, Gasquet has been a prominent figure on the tennis circuit. With his exceptional one-handed backhand, he initially showed promise for a career filled with triumphs. While his journey has not unfolded exactly as anticipated, Gasquet’s career has been commendable. However, the current streak of nine consecutive first-round defeats forces him to reflect on his future, as this has not occurred since his early years in 2004 when he, at the age of seventeen, suffered a similar string of losses.