Richard Gasquet life and biography

Richard Gasquet is a French professional tennis player. He won the mixed doubles Grand Slam title at the 2004 French Open, partnering Tatiana Golovin. His highest ranking in singles is #7. His best achievements in tennis are reaching the semi-finals of Wimbledon in 2007 and later that year qualifying for the Tennis Masters Cup. Gasquet is best known for his long winding groundstrokes.

Nicknamed “Baby Federer,” Richard Gasquet was the most talked about junior in the history of France (he appeared on the cover of a French tennis magazine at age 9).

CAREER:

So far, he has not fulfilled his promise as a pro, despite flashes of brilliance. As of the end of 2009, he had passed the fourth round at a major tournament just once. He was suspended in 2009 after a positive test for cocaine, but the suspension was overturned after Gasquet argued that he tested positive for the drug because he had kissed a woman who had used the drug.

Singles Titles:
2010: Nice
2007: Mumbai
2006: Lyon, Gstaad, Nottingham
2005: Nottingham

Doubles Titles:
2008: Sydney
2006: Metz

Gasquet began 2011 at the 2011 Aircel Chennai Open losing to Björn Phau 1-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(4). He then headed to Australia to play in the 2011 Medibank International Sydney losing to Viktor Troicki 6-4, 6-4. He then played in the first slam of the year at the 2011 Australian Open losing in the third round to Tomáš Berdych 6-2, 7-6(3), 6-2. He then competed at the 2011 PBZ Zagreb Indoors, where he reached the quarterfinals after a bye and the withdrawal of Arnaud Clement, however he retired against Michael Berrer 5-2 down due to a shoulder injury. After a short break, he played in the 2011 Dubai Tennis Championships where he defeated qualifiers Grigor Dimitrov and Sergei Bubka, as well as compatriot Gilles Simon, before he lost to top seed Roger Federer in the semifinals in straight sets, despite serving for the second set. At the BNP Paribas Open he defeated top 10 players Jurgen Melzer and Andy Roddick back-to-back, and it was the first time in his career that he had defeated top 10 players consecutively. He lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals. With the result, he made his return to the top 20 of the rankings. In Miami, he will play Paolo Lorenzi, who upset Ivan Ljubicic, in the 2nd round. He won that match. He then fell to Mardy Fish 4-6, 3-6 who would make a run to the semifinals. Gasquet then played in the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters where he had a tough first round victory over Denis Istomin 5-7, 6-3, 6-4. He then breezed through his second round match 6-2, 6-1 against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez before falling to Rafael Nadal in the third round 2-6, 4-6.

PERSONAL:
Began playing tennis at age four with his father, Francis, who ran a tennis club in Serignan and coached until October 2001; mother, Maryse, also teaches tennis
Appeared on cover of French Tennis Magazine at age nine in February 1996
Discovered by former ATP pro Pierre Barthes who ran the nearby Cap d’Agde tennis camp
Big rugby fan and supports his hometown Beziers team
No. 1 junior and World Junior Champion in 2002, winning Roland Garros (d. Recouderc) and US Open (d. Baghdatis)
Fifth Frenchman to finish as World No. 1 junior and first since Arnaud Di Pasquale in 1997
Moved to Switzerland in September 2005
Has a 5-5 career Davis Cup singles record in seven ties
In February 2008, launched The Richard Gasquet Foundation, which aims to help adolescents who struggle to find their place in society and who suffer from a lack of confidence
It will use sport as a way to bring underprivileged youths back to health and enable them to rediscover the joys of life; and as a way to build a future
Coached by countryman Guillaume Peyre (since Roland Garros in May 2008).

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