Jim Courier explains why Richard Gasquet could not compete with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray - 'It was hard for him'

Richard Gasquet will go down as one of the great French tennis players of his generation. He looks set to retire at the end of the 2025 French Open, and Courier believes the sport will wish him well after several years of excellent service. However, the TNT Sports pundit has also revealed why the Frenchman could not compete with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

Why Gasquet couldn't compete with Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray

Video credit: TNT Sports

TNT Sports expert Jim Courier has revealed why he thinks French tennis legend Richard Gasquet could not compete with the likes of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.
The former world No. 7 looks set to retire from tennis after falling to defeat against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the second round of the 2025 French Open.
The Frenchman went head-to-head with some of the greats of the game during his illustrious career, including tennis' fabled 'Big Four'.
Gasquet reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam on three occasions but never won one of tennis's four most iconic tournaments, and Courier believes his classic technique was to blame.
"I think given that when he started playing tennis, his game was designed beautifully by whoever gave him his technique," he said when asked if there was anything the Frenchman could have done better during his career.
"His long, fluid strokes would actually make it difficult as the game got faster and faster. It was hard for him to hold his ground at the baseline.
"He needed time to hit the big forehand and the big backhand. He was not a guy who could really stand up and go toe-to-toe with these amazing players like Roger Federer, like Rafael Nadal, like Andy Murray, like Novak Djokovic. They were just able to out-position him.
"His game was really built for a prior time, so I don't know that there was anything that you could do once the cast was set with those strokes."
Gasquet reached the semi-final of Wimbledon twice and the same stage of the US Open in 2013.
He reached the second round at Roland-Garros with a victory over fellow Frenchman Terence Atmane but was ultimately eliminated by Sinner.
However, Courier believes that there is no better way for Gasquet to go out than against Sinner.
picture

Watch as Norrie gets second-round clash underway at Roland-Garros

Video credit: TNT Sports

"Richard Gasquet has meant a lot to the tennis here in France," he said.
"You are going to see so many of the members of his peer group, like Gilles Simon, who is just on screen, giving a real outpouring of affection and love for Gasquet.
"If this is his final match, like we believe it will be, he gets to go out against Jannik Sinner. That is a really nice way to put a bow on what has been a really terrific career.
"Gasquet had the misfortune, like so many players his age, to be born into an era of success in tennis that we had not seen before. He got deep into major semi-finals but could never quite get past that. But how many other fantastic players had that same fate?"
Courier believes Gasquet will be remembered for his superb one-handed backhand.
"Gasquet has been awesome for the game," he added. "He has been a shot-maker extraordinaire with the one-handed backhand. It is seared into your brain."
Stream the 2025 French Open live and on-demand on discovery+
Thoughts?
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement