While tennis wrapped at the French Open last week, France is still making headlines.
The Libema Open in The Netherlands saw an all-French final, where world No. 25 Richard Gasquet took his 15th ATP World Tour-level title on Sunday, defeating Jeremy Chardy in straight sets, 6-3, 7-6.
He managed to save two set points in the second set en route to ending Chardy's nine-match winning streak. With his most recent win, Gasquet captured 250 ATP rankings points, elevating him into the Top 30 rankings once again.
Here's more on the Frenchman.
The Richard Gasquet File
Age: 32
Birthplace: Beziers, France
Current Rank: 25
Career-High Rank: 7 (July 2007)
Best US Open Finish: Semifinals (2013)
The Baseline:
- Gasquet's most recent win is his third title on grass. His last grass title came 12 years earlier, when the Frenchman won back-to-back titles in Nottingham, England, in 2005 and 2006.
- Gasquet became the first Frenchman to claim 500 career wins earlier in 2018 when he defeated Mischa Zverev in the third round on the clay courts at Monte Carlo.
- Gasquet has also seen success in team events. In 2014, he helped France's Davis Cup squad reach the final for the first time since 2010, clinching the semifinals with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga against the Czech Republic. Gasquet also holds a bronze medal in doubles from the 2012 London Olympics with Julien Benneteau.
- The success that Gasquet has seen on-court has been parlayed into philanthropic efforts. In 2008, the tennis player started The Richard Gasquet Foundation, which aims to use sport as a means to help underprivileged children build a future.
They Said It!
"It is never easy playing a friend but we are used to playing a lot of French players throughout the year. Of course it is not my first time, but it is never easy." - Gasquet told ATPWorldTour.com after defeating fellow Frenchman Chardy in the final.
