Former world number 7 Richard Gasquet spoke to journalists after playing the final match of his professional career. He was defeated by Jannik Sinner (3/6, 0/6, 4/6) in the second round of Roland Garros.
Having played tennis for so long, what did you enjoy the most – playing or competing?
Just playing. I simply love playing tennis. It was amazing to have the chance to play in front of full stands, like today. Throughout my life, I played matches with many fans and did everything I could to compete. It was fantastic to compete against such great opponents in incredible stadiums like Roland Garros, the US Open, and Wimbledon. I feel very fortunate and was happy to spend so much time on Tour. I have wonderful memories. It feels a bit strange now that it`s over. This is tennis; you have to stop eventually, and I`m doing so today. I consider myself very lucky to finish on such an arena, playing against the world number one. For me, this is the perfect ending.
Can you name one or two of your best matches or memories? Also, on court you said it`s not `adieu` but `au revoir`. What are your plans for the future?
Just one match? It`s always difficult to choose one or two. I`ve had wonderful matches – reaching Grand Slam semifinals, winning the Davis Cup. I`ll have magnificent memories of my time on the Tour. And now, after all of that, I`m ending my career. That`s life, and certainly, the life of a professional tennis player is quite unique. But I will continue to play for pleasure, just like I did as a child. I don`t know exactly what I`ll do next, but simply playing tennis with friends will be enough for me. I`ll just be happy, as I mentioned. I`m very lucky to still be in good health, even ending my career close to 39. I simply enjoy playing tennis, and I will definitely continue to do so in the future.
You seem remarkably calm. Are you surprised that it`s all over?
It is a bit strange, I wouldn`t deny that. It feels odd to finish because I haven`t fully processed it yet. But I am happy to end my career here at almost 39. I couldn`t have wished for more, as you never know what might happen in your last tournament. Playing my final match on Court Philippe Chatrier against the world number one is wonderful for me. I`m very pleased with what I achieved at this tournament. It feels slightly strange because tomorrow there won`t be stress. No need to recover, no training sessions. No grass season to prepare for. That`s the most surprising aspect. My mind still tells me I need to recover and rest. But I am very calm about the decision to retire and very happy to do so today, on this court, against the world number one. The stadium was full, the weather was nice. I am happy. I am happy to finish without being completely broken down. Yes, many things still ache, and I`m quite tired. But I have a good life ahead and can pursue other things. I am not suffering, whereas some players retire in poor health. I played for many years, and I am very glad about that. I`m happy I could win a few matches and reach the second round here. I`m happy I didn`t end on a trivial note. In any case, I had a very positive conclusion to my career. I am happy to have competed in all these tournaments. But you have to know when to stop, and this is the right moment: my ranking has dropped, and I`ve had many injuries this season. No one ever truly knows the perfect time to retire; it`s always difficult. But regardless, finishing my career today on this court, in good weather, is wonderful.
