The Rebirth of Richard Gasquet

Considered by many the most talented junior of his generation, Richard Gasquet failed to deliver on his potential, falling behind the likes of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, or Andy Murray who were all expected to fare worse than the Frenchman once they turn pro. An explanation might be that while his game stayed the same, his rivals developed theirs, improving it considerably. Relying on some amazing natural qualities and a ferocious one-handed backhand, he failed to match the power and aggression of his peers.

Richard showed a bit of his much talked about spark when he stunned world number 1, Roger Federer, in the quarterfinals of the Monte Carlo Masters in May 2005. He the produced a stunning display at Wimbledon in 2007 when he reached the semis, recording a fabulous win over two-time finalist Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals.

Burdened by the huge expectations though, he was unable to follow up on the flourishing start. The lack of results and the constant struggle to find his game and to perform at the desired level took their toll. Then came the odd drugs incident from 2009 that almost ended his career. After testing positive with cocaine, the Frenchman got off with only a few months suspension, but the media seriously damaged his reputation. Gasquet was at the centre of a negative campaign that targeted heavy partying among the young generation of French players. He managed to redeem himself by keeping a low profile and little by little he got back to where he was a few years ago, finishing 2012 inside the top 10, at number 10.

The key to getting his career back on track lay in his increased consistency. He also started to win some of the big matches, which helped him advance to the latter stages of the most important tournaments. In the last couple of months he seemed more solid mentally, more eager to fight on court, more willing  not to give up so easily when things are not going his way. Optimistically speaking, 2012 could have marked the rebirth of Richard Gasquet.

Starting the year in Doha, Richard looked set for an early exit as his second round opponent, Slovak Grega Zemlja served for the match. Contrary to his previous behavior, this time, he did not give up. He found the inner strength required to turn the match around, winning it 7-6 in the decider. Relying on this confidence boost, he was able to pull off another incredible comeback, recovering from being a set and a break down to ultimate succumb rejuvenated Russian, Nikolay Davydenko, to win the title.

Although his run in Quatar showcased Richard’s newly gained fighting spirit, it remains to be seen for how long he can sustain this level. The next big test would of course be the Australian Open, where he looks to cement his top 10 presence with a solid presence that could open the door to that elusive Grand Slam success the French are waiting for so badly.

Richard Gasquet showed some tremendous fighting spirit, coming back from a set and a break down to overcome Russian Nikolay Davydenko, 3-6,7-6,6-3 to win the Doha title. 

photos: GETTY IMAGES