Jim Courier Reflects on Richard Gasquet’s Retirement and Legacy in Tennis 🎾

By Jonny Bray

Updated 29/05/2025 at 19:35 GMT+1

Richard Gasquet’s Retirement: A French Tennis Legend

Richard Gasquet’s retirement marks the end of an era for French tennis. As one of the standout players of his generation, Gasquet is expected to bid farewell at the 2025 French Open. Jim Courier, a respected voice in tennis, shared his insights on why Gasquet, despite his immense talent, found it challenging to compete against the tennis legends known as the ‘Big Four’—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray. Most importantly, Courier believes that while Gasquet’s dedication was undeniable, various factors kept him from reaching the heights scaled by his illustrious peers.

Gasquet vs the Big Four: A Challenging Era

Gasquet, who reached a career-high ranking of World No. 7, faced the daunting task of competing against the ‘Big Four’. Unfortunately, he never captured a Grand Slam title, advancing to the semi-finals three times. Courier attributes this to Gasquet’s traditional playing technique. “Gasquet’s game was crafted beautifully, but as tennis evolved, his long, fluid strokes became a disadvantage in the faster-paced game,” Courier explained. “He needed time for his forehand and backhand, which made it tough to stand his ground against players like Federer, Nadal, Murray, and Djokovic. They could outmaneuver him on the court.”

Moreover, Courier highlighted that Gasquet’s style was more suited to an earlier era of tennis, making adaptation difficult as the sport progressed. “Once his technique was established, there was little that could be done,” he added.

Gasquet’s Career Highlights and Farewell 🎾

Gasquet’s career highlights include reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals twice and the US Open semi-finals in 2013. At Roland-Garros, he made it past the first round by defeating fellow Frenchman Terence Atmane before being ousted by World No. 1 Jannik Sinner. Facing Sinner in what might be his final match at the French Open is seen as a fitting conclusion to Gasquet’s career.

“Richard Gasquet has been a significant figure in French tennis,” Courier remarked. His peers, like Gilles Simon, express great affection for him. If this is indeed his last match, ending it against a player like Sinner is a suitable farewell to a remarkable career. Furthermore, Gasquet will be remembered for his exceptional one-handed backhand, a hallmark of his playing style. This signature stroke left a lasting impression on the tennis world, as explored in The Art of the One-Handed Backhand.

Besides that, Gasquet’s journey highlights the challenges faced by many talented players of his generation. Despite reaching major semi-finals, he often fell short, a fate shared by many due to the formidable era he played in. To understand Gasquet’s career achievements in comparison to his peers, you can explore ATP rankings.

In conclusion, Richard Gasquet’s retirement signifies the closing chapter of a storied career. As we bid farewell to this French tennis legend, his legacy and contributions to the sport will continue to inspire future generations. 🎾