ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 9, 2025

Richard Gasquet

Press Conference

D. ALTMAIER/R. Gasquet

7-5, 5-7, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Hi, Richard. I was just wondering, obviously every tournament you go to now is your last one, and they do some ceremonies for you. So every time, is it getting easier or harder, or does it depend on the tournament?

RICHARD GASQUET: No, of course it was one of the best tournaments in the world, so of course it was really nice for them to do it for me. You know, it was an honor to be on the court, to have a wildcard here, to enter the center court.

I just try my best. I fought. Of course I came back in the second set. I wanted to win in the third, but I did some mistakes. He started to play better than me.

Of course that's my last time here in Monte-Carlo, but I want to keep all the memories I have. I play many great tournaments here. It was one of the best tournaments I could play, especially on center court.

I'm really, really happy with the way I played here, and of course I want to thank the tournament for the wildcard. Now it's another tournament I left, but that's tennis. That's life.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. You said that that's life. Do you have some regrets after that match?

RICHARD GASQUET: I have regrets for the first set. In the third, a little less because it was becoming difficult after almost three hours. So I was able to come back in the second set. It was not easy. I had breakpoints in the first set. I was 3-1, 4-2. It could have gone better for me, but it is clay.

It was cold today, more difficult to play. The ball was not bouncing as high as usual, and it was difficult for me afterwards.

You always have regrets when you play. I'm thinking about those breakpoints in the beginning, but at the end it was becoming more difficult for me.

Q. We saw you hugging with Altmaier after the match. He wrote "Respect to RG" on the camera. What do you think?

RICHARD GASQUET: Well, he was thanking me and congratulating me for my career. It's always very nice to feel respect from other players, because I spent so many years with them on the tour.

It's very important for me. Tennis is a difficult sport. Everybody is fighting to try to win matches. We all know what the sport is. It's always good when another player congratulates you.

Q. Talking about this, do you have some marks of respect and attention from other players because it's your last year?

RICHARD GASQUET: Yes, a lot from many players. When you see the images of me when I was young, you realize that there are not many players who started so early and lasted so long.

You see sometimes a young player at 15 years old and ending his career at 39 years old, there are not that many of them.

So there is respect from other players and also from the younger players. They say congratulations for your career. The younger ones belong to another generation. It's funny when I see the players that are 19, 20 years old, and I'm 39. It's an enormous difference.

I have seen many generations. I started with Agassi, and I'm finishing with Alcaraz. 40 years. It's huge. Not many players had this opportunity.

Q. A few days ago you were saying it was one of your last tournaments. After that there is the French Open. Are there other tournaments you're going to play?

RICHARD GASQUET: Aix, Bordeaux, for sure. I will see if I can qualify for Madrid and Rome, but I like to play tournaments in France. So if I can play those tournaments, I'll go. Otherwise I'll be at the French Open.

Q. What memories will you have of this tournament in Monte-Carlo?

RICHARD GASQUET: There are really two matches that I can highlight, two matches that had people talk a lot in my career. The one against Federer and... (indiscernible).

I will remember those two matches. And the center court here is absolutely magnificent. It's one of the most beautiful tournaments I played.

Q. For the next two months, you'll still be in competition. Maybe it's a bit early to ask, but do you know what you're going to do afterwards?

RICHARD GASQUET: I don't know.

Q. Maybe work with younger players?

RICHARD GASQUET: Possibly. I don't know right now. I will need to rest this summer, July and August, and we'll see what happens. It's going to be in tennis, anyway. Maybe mainly in France with French players. We'll see.

First thing, I have to try to finish this season well. Things are moving very fast. I need to play well in these tournaments, and I'll see what happens afterwards.