"Big applause for Richard" – Gasquet bids farewell to Montpellier after Griekspoor defeat

The Open Sud de France has said goodbye to one of its greatest competitors, Richard Gasquet. The French veteranbowed out in the round of 16 after a hard-fought battle against Holland’s Tallon Griekspoor.

Gasquet's connection to Montpellier has always been special. His exceptional performances over the years made him a fan favourite, and saying goodbye at the age of 38 was never going to be easy.

Facing Griekspoor, the tournament’s fifth seed, was always going to be a monumental challenge for Gasquet. However, the Frenchman, known for his resilience, fought until the very end.

The two competitors left everything on the court in a gripping two-hour, three-minute contest. A pivotal moment came in the third set, where Griekspoor saved six break points, including four that, if converted, could have allowed Gasquet to take the match.

Griekspoor’s indoor dominance was evident. He has 25 indoor victories, a tally second only to Jannik Sinner’s 33. A telling statistic was break points converted – Griekspoor had a 40% success rate, while Gasquet managed just 11.1%.

Speaking after the match, Griekspoor reflected on the intensity of the encounter:

"I don't know how I got away with that," he said in his on-court interview. "I guess I was a little bit lucky there. A lot of second serves there as well; I'm just a little bit lucky there. It went my way. Happy with the win in the end and happy to get another chance to come back tomorrow."

Many tennis greats have a special tournament that defines their legacy – Novak Djokovic dominates at the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal reigns supreme at Roland-Garros, and Andy Murray has shone at Queen’s Club.

For Richard Gasquet, Montpellier was his kingdom.

He is a three-time champion, has reached six finals, holds the record for most appearances (13), and boasts the most victories (29) in the tournament’s history.

After the match, Griekspoor paid tribute to Gasquet’s remarkable career:

"First of all, big applause for Richard. Unbelievable career, achieved so much. If I can achieve some of what he's achieved in his career, I'd sign for it."

Gasquet, a sensational competitor, has confirmed that he will retire at the 2025 French Open, one of the most prestigious events in the tennis calendar.

His farewell at Roland-Garros will be a fitting end to an illustrious career, and fans will cherish one final opportunity to see the Frenchman compete on home soil.

As one of France’s greatest tennis stars, Gasquet’s impact on the sport will not be forgotten.