2024 is Richard Gasquet's 23rd consecutive season as a professional tennis player, and his incredible longevity has been demonstrated by the Frenchman becoming the third-oldest ATP Challenger Tour title winner.
Gasquet made his ATP Tout debut as a wild card at the 2002 Monte-Carlo Masters at the age of just 15 years and ten months. He defeated Franco Squillari in his first-ever match.
Since then, he has had a superb career. His best Grand Slam results were semifinal appearances at Wimbledon in 2007 and 2015 and at the US Open in 2013. In those matches, he lost to Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, and Rafael Nadal.
Gasquet also reached three Masters-1000 finals: the 2005 Hamburg Open and the 2006 and 2012 Canadian Open. He was unfortunate again in the finals, facing Federer twice and Djokovic once.
The existence of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, and Andy Murray was the principal reason Gasquet never managed to win any of the biggest titles. His prime coincided with those four being at or near their best.
Gasquet's achievements in his prime were excellent, but his continued longevity, despite not being at his peak anymore, is arguably even more impressive. It shows his passion and love for the sport.
The Frenchman, who was 36 at the time, won the ASB Classic in Auckland in January 2023. Gasquet came from behind to win a thrilling battle against Cameron Norrie 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and secure the title.
Although his results have understandably declined slightly in the last 12 months, Gasquet won a match at the French Open this year. US Open champion Jannik Sinner defeated him the following round, recording a dominant victory.
Gasquet is currently outside the Top 100, and getting back there at 38 is a goal most other players would have given up on. However, the 16-time ATP title winner has said that is an objective, and his run at the Cassis Challenger has helped his chances of making that a reality.
After losing in the US Open qualifiers, Gasquet played in Cassis during the second week of the year's final Grand Slam. His presence may have surprised some, but it was a wise decision.
Gasquet played great matches against Antoine Bellier, Antoine Cornut-Chauvinc, Titouan Droguet, Adria Soriano Barrera, and Jurij Rodionov. The final was played over two days due to rain, but the home favorite claimed the title with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 triumph.
That success means only Ivo Karlovic and Fernando Verdasco have won Challenger Tour titles at an older age. Verdasco was 38 years and three months old when he won the Monterrey Challenger, while Karlovic was 39 years and seven months old when he triumphed in Calgary.
Gasquet has been an underappreciated stalwart for many years. He possesses one of the greatest single-handed backhands in tennis history, and the 2016 French Open quarterfinalist continues to produce moments of magic with it.
It is unclear when Gasquet will hang up his racket, but his run in Cassis could encourage him to extend his career and keep fighting for a return to the Top 100.
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