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Britain’s Harriet Dart is in action on day three of the US Open with Coco Gauff and Novak Djokovic to follow later on. Watch live on Sky Sports Tennis.
Richard Gasquet played the US Open for the last time in his amazing career. The French tennis player, who turned 38 in June, said goodbye to Flushing Meadows, failing to achieve the goal of qualifying for the main draw for the 20th consecutive season, giving up in the qualifications.
Semifinalist in 2013, the former ATP number 7 was eliminated in the second round of qualification, surrendering to the Lithuanian Next Gen Vilius Gaubas. At the end of the match, the organizers of the New York Major wanted to pay homage to the Frenchman with a plaque in his honor, remembering the exploits of one of the most elegant tennis players on the Tour, whose one-handed backhand is universally recognized as one of the most beautiful in recent years.
Gasquet, with a speech on the sidelines, thanked the crowd for the warmth he has received over the years, recalling his most emotional moments on the courts of the US Slam.
“I am a very lucky man. I have played on the best courts in New York, in front of the best fans. It was the best atmosphere you can find on a tennis court, playing in front of 20,000 people on Center Court. I played against Federer, Djokovic and Nadal, the best players here, and I am proud of the level I showed in New York,” explained the Frenchman at the end of the match.
Gasquet is still disappointed at not having reached, for one last time, the main draw. “I will carry these memories with me for the rest of my life. It’s a little sad to end the year like this, but I’m very happy with how I played here in New York. You play tennis to feel this kind of sensation. Playing here has always been electrifying,” concluded Gasquet, winner of 22 ATP titles in his career.
The 38-year-old has not yet announced the official date of his retirement from tennis, but the moment of farewell could probably come in one of his home tournaments, between Paris-Bercy 2024 and Roland Garros 2025.