Retiring Richard Gasquet Calls Roland Garros 2nd Round Clash with Jannik Sinner ‘Fabulous’

Jannik Sinner holds a 3-0 lead in the head-to-head encounter with veteran Richard Gasquet, who will retire after the French Open.

Retiring Richard Gasquet Calls Roland Garros 2nd Round Clash with Jannik Sinner ‘Fabulous’

Jannik Sinner, Richard Gasquet (Image via X/The Tennis Letter, We Are Tennis France)

Richard Gasquet has announced that the ongoing French Open will be the last tournament of his career. He kept himself alive in the event after knocking out compatriot Terence Atmane in the first round.

But now, he will face a tough challenge in the form of World No.1 Jannik Sinner. The Italian ace started his campaign in an emphatic fashion, knocking out home favorite Arthur Rinderknech in straight sets. At the press conference after his first-round win, Gasquet made his feelings known about his clash with Sinner.

It’s important to me that the French win, but well if I can play against the World No. 1 this Thursday, that would also be fabulous. It would be a wonderful draw for me. So far, I’ve managed to win this match, so I could end up facing him.

Sinner has faced the veteran Frenchman Gasquet thrice, winning all. The upcoming match will be their second encounter at the French Open, following last year which Sinner had won in straight sets.

Gasquet, who turned pro in 2002, is playing his 22nd Roland Garros. In his home Grand Slam event, Gasquet has never made it past the quarterfinals, producing his best when he reached the last eight in 2016. The 38-year-old has never progressed beyond the semifinal of a Grand Slam tournament.

Tim Henman backs Carlos Alcaraz to win more Grand Slam titles than Jannik Sinner

Carlos Alcaraz is 22 years old now. Last year, 21-year-old Alcaraz became a four-time Grand Slam champion when he completed the rare Channel Slam. His biggest rival, Jannik Sinner, lifted his first Major last year at the Australian Open, then doubled his Grand Slam tally after winning the US Open. He continued his winning ways by defending his Australian Open title this year.

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner (Image via X/Giovanni Pelazzo, Carlos Alcaraz)

In the ongoing French Open, Alcaraz is bidding to defend his title, while Sinner is hoping to reach the final for the first time. Ahead of the French Open, while comparing these two young rivals, former player Tim Henman backed Alcaraz to win more Majors than Sinner.

Alcaraz eventually will win more Grand Slam titles. To achieve what he has done already at the age of 21 is incredible, but it feels like there is so much more to come from Alcaraz. With Alcaraz, we are in a conversation with Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic and that’s the slight question mark with Alcaraz.

Tim Henman told TNT Sport

Alcaraz holds a 7-4 head-to-head lead over the three-time Grand Slam champion and also ended his 26-match winning streak in the Italian Open final. It was the Spaniard’s fourth consecutive victory over the Italian as last year, Sinner lost all three matches he played against the four-time Major champion.

The Italian Open was Sinner’s first tournament since the three-month doping ban. He is chasing his second title of the season in the tournament- the first being the Australian Open. Alcaraz, on the other hand, is chasing his fourth title of the season as prior to Rome, he became a champion in Rotterdam and Monte Carlo (for the first time in his career).

In the ongoing tournament, Alcaraz breezed past Giulio Zeppieri to set up a second-round clash with Fabian Marozsan. For the first time at a Grand Slam tournament, Sinner and Alcaraz are seeded first and second, respectively, and will be pitted against each other if both of them reach the championship match.

Last year, Alcaraz lifted his first French Open by overcoming World No.3 Alexander Zverev. It was Sinner who Alcaraz had eliminated in the semifinal. Before reaching the final, Alcaraz could run into Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals and Lorenzo Musetti in the semifinals. Sinner is projected to meet Zverev or 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic in the semifinal.

Also read: Carlos Alcaraz Moved by the Emotional Roland Garros Tribute to ‘Idol’ Rafael Nadal