Richard Gasquet facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Richard Gasquet

Gasquet at the 2022 BNP Paribas Primrose Bordeaux
Full name	Richard Gabriel Cyr Gasquet
Country (sports)	France
Residence	Neuchâtel, Switzerland
Born	(1986-06-18) 18 June 1986 (age 39) Béziers, France
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Turned pro	2002
Retired	2025
Plays	Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money	US$21,471,116  28th all-time leader in earnings
Official website	richardgasquet.net
Singles
Career record	610–408
Career titles	16
Highest ranking	No. 7 (9 July 2007)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	4R (2007, 2008, 2012, 2013)
French Open	QF (2016)
Wimbledon	SF (2007, 2015)
US Open	SF (2013)
Other tournaments
Tour Finals	RR (2007, 2013)
Olympic Games	2R (2012)
Doubles
Career record	72–63
Career titles	2
Highest ranking	No. 45 (7 April 2008)
Grand Slam doubles results
Australian Open	1R (2006)
French Open	1R (2002, 2003, 2005, 2023)
Other doubles tournaments
Olympic Games	(2012)
Mixed doubles
Career record	11–0 (100%)
Career titles	1
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
French Open	W (2004)
Team competitions
Davis Cup	W (2017)
Hopman Cup	W (2017)
Medal record Tennis Representing  France Olympic Games Bronze 2012 London Men's doubles

Richard Gabriel Cyr Gasquet (born June 18, 1986) is a professional tennis player from France. He reached world No. 7 in men's singles in July 2007. Gasquet won 16 singles titles on the ATP Tour. He also achieved over 600 career match wins.

His best results in major singles tournaments were reaching the semifinals three times. These were at the Wimbledon Championships in 2007 and 2015, and at the US Open in 2013. He also won a mixed doubles title at the 2004 French Open with Tatiana Golovin. In 2012, he earned an Olympic bronze medal in men's doubles with Julien Benneteau at the 2012 London Olympics. Gasquet is well-known for his smooth playing style and his special one-handed backhand.

Early Life and Junior Career

Richard Gasquet was born and grew up in Béziers, France. His parents, Maryse and Francis, were biology teachers. They also ran a local tennis club. Richard started playing tennis at age 4 with his dad.

A famous tennis player, Pierre Barthès, noticed him when he was young. When Richard was 9, a French tennis magazine called him a "future champion."

Junior Tennis Success

Gasquet played his first junior match in April 1999 when he was 12. He quickly became a top player in the Under-14 circuit. He won important tournaments like Tim Essonne and Les Petits As. He also won the European Junior Championships. In one important match, he beat 12-year-old Rafael Nadal.

As a junior, he won 44 singles matches and lost only 7. He became the world's No. 1 junior player on September 9, 2002, at 16 years old. In 2002, he reached the semifinals of the Junior Australian Open. He won the Junior French Open and the Junior US Open. His win at the Junior French Open was the shortest final ever, lasting only 45 minutes.

His success as a young player made many people believe he would become a future world No. 1. The French media even called him the "Mozart of tennis" when he was just 15.

Starting Professional Tennis

2002: First Steps as a Pro

Gasquet joined the ATP tour in April 2002. He was given a special entry into a tournament in Monte Carlo. At 15 years and 10 months, he became the youngest player ever to qualify for a Masters Series event. He also became the youngest player to win a main draw singles match on the ATP Tour since 1988.

He played in his first major tournament, the French Open, in 2002. He was only 15 years old. Even though he was young, he won a set against the player who eventually won the tournament, Albert Costa. Gasquet ended 2002 as the No. 1 junior player in the world. He was also the youngest player ever to finish the year in the ATP top 200 rankings.

2004: Mixed Doubles Champion

In 2004, Gasquet reached his first ATP Tour singles final in Metz, France. He lost to his fellow countryman Jérôme Haehnel. That same year, he won the mixed doubles title at the French Open. He played with Tatiana Golovin.

2005: First Title and Big Wins

Gasquet missed the start of 2005 due to chickenpox. After he recovered, he won two Challenger titles. In April, he reached the semifinals of the Monte Carlo Masters. He surprised everyone by beating world No. 1 Roger Federer in the quarterfinals. He saved three match points in that exciting match. This made him the youngest French player to ever beat a world No. 1. However, he then lost to Rafael Nadal.

Later, Gasquet reached the final of the Hamburg Masters, but Federer beat him there. On his 19th birthday, June 18, he won his first ATP Tour singles title. He beat Max Mirnyi in the final of the Nottingham Open in England. He also played in the Davis Cup for the first time.

2006: Winning on Different Surfaces

Gasquet had a slow start in 2006. He lost early at the Australian Open. He later won his second title of the year on clay in Gstaad. He also reached the final of the Masters Series event in Toronto, where Federer beat him again.

In October, Gasquet won his third ATP Tour singles title of the year in Lyon. This meant he had reached ATP Tour singles finals on all four types of tennis surfaces that year.

2007: Reaching World No. 7

Gasquet at the 2007 Wimbledon Championships

In 2007, Gasquet reached his first major tournament semifinal at Wimbledon. He beat Andy Roddick, a two-time finalist, in a thrilling five-set match. Gasquet was known for his amazing backhand shots. He lost in the semifinals to Roger Federer. After this, he reached his highest ranking, world No. 7.

He won his fifth career ATP title in Mumbai, India. He also reached the semifinals of the Paris Masters. Gasquet qualified for the Tennis Masters Cup, a big year-end tournament.

2008: 150 Career Wins

Gasquet in the first round of the 2008 Australian Open

Gasquet started 2008 by reaching the doubles final in Sydney with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. They beat the world No. 1 team, Bob and Mike Bryan. Gasquet reached the fourth round of the Australian Open.

He faced some challenges with injuries and feeling tired. He reached his first ATP tour final of the year at the Mercedes Cup in Germany. He lost to young player Juan Martín del Potro.

2009: Challenges and Return

Gasquet after hitting a backhand at the 2009 US Open

In May 2009, Gasquet was temporarily suspended from playing. However, in July 2009, he was cleared to return to tennis after a review.

He returned to the tour at the Pilot Pen championship. He played his first major tournament since January at the US Open, where he lost to Rafael Nadal. Gasquet then reached his first ATP semifinal since January at the Open de Moselle.

2010: Back to Form

Gasquet started 2010 by reaching the semifinals in Brisbane and the final in Sydney. He won his sixth ATP title at the Open de Nice. He beat Fernando Verdasco in the final. He had to withdraw from Wimbledon due to a back injury.

He reached the fourth round of the US Open. He also helped France reach the Davis Cup final.

2011: 250 Career Wins

Gasquet at the 2011 Boodles Challenge

In 2011, Gasquet defeated two top-10 players, Jürgen Melzer and Andy Roddick, back-to-back at the BNP Paribas Open. This was a first for him. He reached the quarterfinals there, which helped him return to the top 20 rankings. He also had a great win over Roger Federer at the Italian Open.

He reached the fourth round of the French Open and Wimbledon.

2012: Olympic Bronze Medal

Gasquet at the 2012 French Open

In 2012, Gasquet played for France in the 2012 Hopman Cup with Marion Bartoli. They reached the final. At the 2012 Summer Olympics, Gasquet won a bronze medal in men's doubles with Julien Benneteau. They beat a Spanish team to win the medal.

2013: 300th Win and Second Major Semifinal

Gasquet at the 2013 Boodles Challenge

Gasquet started 2013 by winning the title in Doha. He recorded his 300th career match win there. He won his second title of the year in Montpellier.

At the US Open, Gasquet reached the singles semifinals. This was his best performance at a major tournament since 2007. He beat David Ferrer in a tough five-set match. He then lost to Rafael Nadal. His strong performance helped him stay in the top 10 rankings.

2014: Injuries and Davis Cup Final

Gasquet serving against Roger Federer at the 2014 Davis Cup final

In 2014, Gasquet faced some injuries. He reached the final of the Aegon International on grass. He also played in the 2014 Davis Cup final, where France lost to Switzerland.

2015: Comeback and Third Major Semifinal

Gasquet at the 2015 Mutua Madrid Open

Gasquet had a strong comeback in 2015. He won his 11th ATP Tour singles title in Montpellier. He also won his 12th title at the Estoril Open.

At Wimbledon, he reached the semifinals again, beating strong players like Stanislas Wawrinka. He lost to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals. His good play at Wimbledon helped him get back into the top 10 rankings by the end of the year.

2016: More Titles and Injuries

Gasquet serving at the 2016 French Open

Gasquet won his 13th and 14th ATP Tour singles titles in 2016. He won his third Open Sud de France title in Montpellier. At the French Open, he reached his first singles quarterfinal there. He lost to Andy Murray. He had to withdraw from the 2016 Olympics due to a back injury.

2017: Hopman Cup and Davis Cup Wins

Gasquet at the 2017 Eastbourne

In 2017, Gasquet helped France win the 2017 Hopman Cup. He and his partner, Mladenovic, won the deciding mixed doubles match in the final against the United States. He also helped France win the 2017 Davis Cup by winning a doubles match in the final against Belgium. He missed several tournaments due to appendicitis surgery and a back injury.

2018: 500th Career Win

Gasquet at the 2018 Wimbledon Championships

In 2018, Gasquet reached the singles final of the Open Sud de France for the sixth year in a row. He lost to Lucas Pouille. At the Monte-Carlo Masters, Gasquet achieved his 500th career singles win on the ATP Tour. He was the first Frenchman in the Open Era to reach this milestone. He won his 15th ATP career singles title at the Libéma Open on grass. He finished the year by withdrawing from the Davis Cup final due to injury.

2019: Surgery and Semifinal Run

Gasquet at the 2019 French Open

Gasquet had groin surgery in January 2019. He returned to play at the Madrid Open. He later reached the semifinals of the Cincinnati tournament. He beat Andy Murray and Roberto Bautista Agut before losing to David Goffin.

2020: A Challenging Year

Gasquet started 2020 by reaching the quarterfinals in Montpellier and Dubai. The season was then paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned to play at the US Open.

2021: 550th Win and a Final

Gasquet at the 2021 Open de Rennes

In March 2021, Gasquet recorded his 550th career win at the Dubai Open. He became one of only five active players with over 550 wins. He reached back-to-back quarterfinals in Lyon and Emilia-Romagna. In Lyon, he beat world No. 10 Diego Schwartzman, his first win over a top-10 player in almost two years.

He reached his first final in over three years at the Croatia Open in Umag. He lost to young Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

2022: Big Wins and Major Appearances

At the 2022 Geneva Open, Gasquet defeated world No. 2 Daniil Medvedev. This was his first win against a top-two ranked opponent since 2005. This win meant Gasquet had beaten a player in every ranking spot from No. 1 to No. 100 on the ATP Tour.

He reached the third round of Wimbledon and the US Open. By the end of 2022, he had played in 68 major tournaments, tying him with Novak Djokovic.

2023: Auckland Title and 600th Win

Gasquet at the 2023 Monte-Carlo Masters

In January 2023, Gasquet won the ASB Classic title. He beat Cameron Norrie in the final. This was his 16th ATP title and his first in almost five years. At 36 years old, he became the oldest French player to win an ATP title in the Open Era. This win also made him the French No. 1 player in singles rankings.

At the 2023 BOSS Open, he recorded his 600th career win against top seed Stefanos Tsitsipas. He became the first French player and only the fourth active player to reach this milestone. He also participated in his 70th Grand Slam at the 2023 French Open.

2024–2025: Retirement from Tennis

In 2024, Gasquet played his 1000th career match on the ATP tour at the 2024 Mutua Madrid Open. He defeated Borna Ćorić in the first round of the 2024 French Open. He also won his tenth ATP Challenger title at the 2024 Cassis Open Provence.

Richard Gasquet announced his retirement from tennis on October 10, 2024. His last tournament was the 2025 French Open. In May 2025, he won his first-round match at Roland Garros against Terence Atmane. This made him the first French player over 38 to win a main draw singles match at the French Open in the Open Era. He recorded his 117th Grand Slam win, which is third all-time among Frenchmen. He played in his 75th Grand Slam, ranking him fourth all-time. In the second round, he lost to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, ending his career. He finished with 19 straight years in the top 100, 16 ATP titles, and the most wins (610) among Frenchmen in the Open Era.

He also participated in the 2025 Hopman Cup after his retirement announcement.

Playing Style

Gasquet swinging a backhand

Gasquet is known for his elegant and complete tennis game. His single-handed backhand is considered one of the best ever. He hits it with a lot of spin, making it fast and accurate. Many experts, like John McEnroe, have praised his backhand.

He is also good at hitting different types of shots, like slices and drop-shots. He likes to come to the net to finish points. Gasquet plays well on all surfaces: clay, grass, and hard courts.

However, Gasquet sometimes plays too far behind the baseline. This can make him open to drop-shots. His serve is also known more for spin than for speed.

Equipment

Gasquet at the Le Coq Sportif photoshoot in December 2013

Gasquet uses a Head Graphene Extreme Pro racquet. He uses Tourna Grip for his racquet handle. He wore Lacoste clothing for many years, then switched to Le Coq Sportif in 2014. His tennis shoes are from Asics.

Personal Life

Gasquet has started the Richard Gasquet Foundation. This foundation uses sports to help children who are not as lucky. It helps them stay healthy and build a good future.

He is a big fan of rugby and supports his hometown team, Béziers. He once said that if he wasn't a tennis player, he would probably be a rugby player. He also loves football and supports Montpellier and Paris St-Germain. He is good friends with basketball player Tony Parker. His favorite food is Italian.

Images for kids

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  Bronze medal

See also

In Spanish: Richard Gasquet para niños