Top-seeded Jannik Sinner put an end to Richard Gasquet’s professional career with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 defeat on Thursday in the second round of the French Open in Paris.
The 23-year-old Italian dispatched the 38-year-old Frenchman in one hour, 58 minutes at Roland Garros. Sinner also bounced Gasquet from the French Open last year.
“It’s obviously a very special place for me to play and against Richard,” Sinner said. “We played last year too. It’s very tough but I’m happy to be in the third round.”
Sinner’s victory was his 16th in a row in a Grand Slam, making him the first man born in 1990 or later to accomplish the feat.
“We have a good relationship off the court. We are different generations, but it’s your moment,” Sinner said to Gasquet. “Congrats to your family, to your team. Without great people around each player, it’s impossible to make such an incredible career. You played in such an incredible era of tennis and everyone will recognize you, even after your retirement.”
Gasquet, a 16-time winner on the ATP Tour, told the L’Equipe newspaper in October that he will bid adieu in front of his home fans at Roland Garros.
Known for his sensational, one-handed backhand, Gasquet reached a career-high ranking of No. 7.
Gasquet never won a Grand Slam singles title, however, going as far as the semifinals twice at Wimbledon (2007, 2015) and once at the U.S. Open (2013). His best showing at the French Open was a quarterfinal appearance in 2016.
While Gasquet’s 23-year career comes to a close, Sinner will return to the court to face Jiri Lehecka in the third round. The Czech posted a 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory over 26th-seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain.
Also on Thursday, third-seeded Alexander Zverev of Germany rebounded from a first-set misstep to notch a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 win over Jesper De Jong of the Netherlands. Zverev had 43 winners and broke De Jong’s serve seven times to win the match in three hours.
Later in the day, British fifth seed Jack Draper battled fast Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, and No. 6 seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia dismissed Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (1) to remain unbeaten against French opponents at Roland Garros.
“Mentally I had to stay concentrated and prepared for a match like that,” Djokovic said. “Corentin is a player who has great speed, it was a great battle, especially the third set. I saved a set point… At that moment, anything is possible. I found a shot to stay in the set, a good service.”
Fourteenth-seeded Frenchman Arthur Fills survived a scare — as well as a back injury — by posting a 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4), 2-6, 0-6, 6-4 victory over Jaume Munar of Spain. The marathon match lasted four hours, 25 minutes.
Ninth-seeded Alex de Minaur of Australia and 19th-seeded Jakub Mensik of the Czech Republic weren’t as fortunate. Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik fought his way back for a 2-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 victory over de Minaur, while Portugal’s Henrique Rocha did the same in a 2-6, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 win over Mensik.
Bublik and Rocha will square off against each other in the third round.
No. 17 seed Andrey Rublev of Russia advanced past Australian Adam Walton in straight sets, while Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic went the distance to take down Canadian 27th seed Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (5), 7-6 (6), 4-6, 4-6, 6-3. Each player saved 10 break points in a match that lasted four hours and 14 minutes.
American 21-year-old Ethan Quinn also won a five-setter, beating Kazakhstan’s Alexander Shevchenko 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3), 7-5.
Other winners Thursday included Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands, Flavio Cobolli of Italy, Portugal’s Joao Fonseca and Great Britain’s Cameron Norrie. Jacob Fearnley of Great Britain was ahead 6-3, 4-4 over 22nd seed Ugo Humbert when the Frenchman retired from their match.
–Field Level Media
