Richard Gasquet has bid farewell to the US Open after losing in the second round of the qualifying tournament.
The former world No.7 has confirmed this year would be the last time he plays in the Grand Slam before he steps away from the sport. Gasquet was knocked out of the tournament by Lithuania’s Vilius Gaubas, who stormed to a 6-2, 6-4 victory. He was bidding to reach the main draw in Flushing Meadows for the 20th year in a row.
Following the match, a brief presentation took place with tournament director Stacey Allaster presenting Gasquet with a gift before he addressed the crowd.
“I will keep these memories for my life,” the 38-year-old said. “It’s a little bit sad for me to finish this year [like this], but I’m really happy with how I’ve played here in New York… to be here with the crowd, to feel this emotion, these feelings. You play tennis to feel these kind of feelings. It’s electric, it’s incredible for me to play in New York.”
Gasquet reached the semi-finals of the US Open in 2013 and then the quarter-finals two years later. Overall, he has won 30 out of 48 matches played at the event during his career. He also won the boy’s title 22 years ago in 2002.
“I’m so lucky,” Gasquet commented. “I played on the best court here with a lot of crowds. It was the most incredible atmosphere you can face on a tennis court, playing with 20,000 people on a centre court. I played [Roger] Federer, [Novak] Djokovic, [Rafael] Nadal, the best players on this court, and I’m proud with the way I played here in New York.”
It is yet to be confirmed when or where Gasquet will play his last match.
Earlier this week, there was another farewell in US Open qualifying with Filip Krajinović ending his career after losing in the first round to Jurij Rodionov. The 32-year-old Serbian is a former world No.26 who was runner-up at five ATP events, including the 2017 Paris Masters.
“I was struggling for the past year and a half, thinking what to do. I was not happy with my form. I was not happy with my body, and I didn’t play the level I wanted. I dropped a lot. I decided to finish after the US Open,” Krajinovic told ATPTour.com. “I was really, really sad [Monday]. I couldn’t really even play. I was crying on the court because the whole life you’re playing and you’re competing, so it was not easy to say goodbye, but at the same time, I’m happy that now I’mfree.”
Finally, Diego Schwartzman is also playing in Flushing Meadows for the last time in his career and is expected to retire early next season. The Argentine is a win away from booking his place in the main draw after upsetting top seed Thiago Agustín Tirante 7-5, 6-4. He will next play Gaubas.
