“It's hard to finish like this in Montpellier”: big battle despite the defeat, emotion and tribute… Richard Gasquet lived his last evening at the Open Occitanie

Still in contention for an incredible victory at the end of the third set, Richard Gasquet ended up losing to Tallon Griekspoor (6-3, 3-6, 7-5) in the round of 16 of the Open Occitanie, Thursday, January 30. Marking the end of his adventure in Montpellier. And of an era.

As he entered the central court of the Sud de France Arena, Marc Maury could have paid him an incredible tribute. In the same way as he listed Rafael Nadal's fourteen titles at Roland-Garros, he could have listed Richard Gasquet's six consecutive finals in Montpellier: “2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018…” And it would have sounded great.

But the local boy didn't need it to give himself a magnificent last hurrah in his Hérault, he who will end his career after a final appearance at the Porte d'Auteuil, next May. Even seeing himself harvest, at almost 39 years old, an incredible victory against Tallon Griekspoor, a seeded No. 5 who was only so on paper, as he seemed beatable, Thursday evening.

Read also: Richard Gasquet after his last match at the Open Occitanie: “I really saw myself winning the match”

But the Dutchman ended up putting in a little more effort at the end of the third set, saving two break points at 3-3 and, more importantly, four more at 4-4, preventing Michel-Ange from Hérault and his legendary one-handed backhand from serving for the win.

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Great battle

“It's hard to lose, I really saw myself winning the match in the third set, described the Hérault player in a press conference, his eyes misty. I had six break points, but each time he negotiated them well and he played well to finish, so congratulations to him.”

Finally, Gasquet fell with weapons in hand, beaten after a fight of more than two hours (6-3, 3-6, 7-5). Allowing the tournament to pay him a very nice tribute, which it had put back in the boxes after the victory of the Sérignanais against Adrian Mannarino, Tuesday.

Between a painting of him, a video retracing his three successes in Montpellier. But also the presence of his father, Francis, who shaped the artist of yesterday and today in his younger years in Sérignan – and whose birthday his son forgot to celebrate on Thursday.

True emotion

All of which provokes an emotion that is not feigned by the former French musketeer. No mean feat considering the character of a man who was inevitably affected when he recounted what went through his head after this final defeat.

“It's hard to finish like that, in Montpellier, but it was a great match, there were great emotions, he recounted again. And at some point, you have to know when to stop, this is the time to do it. I have already pushed things quite far, at almost 39 years old, so I am already very proud of everything I have done, here in Montpellier, the titles I have had. Today, it was close. But when it was created in 2010, I did not believe that a tournament would be played on my home turf. Six finals in a row, three titles… Those were incredible moments for me.”

When he returned to his parents' house in Béziers on Thursday evening, Gasquet took with him the missed opportunities to continue the adventure of a tournament that he left his indelible mark on. A tournament where he will remain for many years to come as the record holder for participations (13), victories (29) and titles (2013, 2015, 2016). A tournament that will remember its Little Prince of Sérignan for a very long time. And who will miss him. Undeniably.

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