Richard Gasquet has been one of the longest active player on the ATP Tour and his 551 wins are a testimony to his long career. Gasquet who turned pro in 2002 is now in his 20th season of his career.
Gasquet made his debut at the Monte Carlo Masters 2002 getting drafted as a wildcard, coming in as World No. 1 in the junior categories. He became the youngest player to qualify for a Masters event and with his first round win became the youngest ever to register a win in the top-tier main draw match since 1988.
He found early success on the tour with his biggest title coming at the 2004 French Open where he won the title in the Doubles category with partner Tatiana Golovin. The French legend also helped France to Davis Cup and Hopman Cup titles in 2017.
In his 20th active season, Richard Gasquet recently talked about the evolution in the game and how things have changed over a time. In a recent interview he said, “In the 80s players were breaking rackets often. Now everything is politically correct.”
Richard Gasquet qualifies for the quarter-finals at the ATP Lyon Open 2021
Racquet breaking is now a penalty with minimum fine of being $500 and it can increase if the umpire feels the conduct was violent and deserves more sanctions. The fines have gone well into thousands with the largest fine so far being handed to Nick Kyrigos.
Kyrigos was slapped a whopping $1,13,000 fine at the 2019 Western and Southern Open racket abuse, ball abuse, leaving the court, audible obscenity, five unsportsmanlike conduct penalties and verbal abuse.
Speaking further Gasquet said, “You get fined for nothing, you are afraid to use the ‘F’ word. It’s a shame.” Richard Gasquet was himself fined at the 2015 Wimbledon Championships when he was caught in racket abuse and outburst which saw him fined $3000 by the officials.
Gasquet who is currently playing at the ATP Lyon Open 2021 has qualified for the quarter-finals set to be played on Friday, 21st May against Karen Khachanov.
