Photo credit: ROLEX/Antoine Couvercelle
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Jannik Sinner says completing a three-month suspension earlier this month makes him even more grateful for every moment of competition.
Today, Sinner shredded sentimentality reigning 27 winners in 25 games to dominate Frenchman Richard Gasquet’s farewell with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 triumph in the Roland Garros second round.
French fans were chanting “Richard! Richard! Saluting the home hero with the wondrous one-handed backhand and most career victories (610) of any Frenchman in Open Era history.
Playing with buzz-kill brilliance, Sinner muted the Court Philippe Chatrier chorus by streaking through seven games in a row to take command today.
"Before the match, definitely something different in my mind. But, you know, very nice moment," Sinner said of Gasquet's farewell. "I got to know him a little bit also off the court. He's a very nice person. He has great people around him.
"Yeah, amazing career he had. I think I said everything also on court, no? He played in an era where it was very difficult to play, because, you know, he played against maybe the best era ever in tennis, and he some reached some incredible results, incredibly talented player. Amazing to share this moment with him, and obviously I wish him only the best for his new chapter."
It is Sinner’s 16th consecutive major match win as the 23-year-old Italian became the first man born in 1990 or later to amass 16 straight wins in Grand Slam play.
The world No. 1 continues his dual mission: Sinner is playing to become the first Italian man since legendary Adriano Panatta in 1976 to win Roland Garros—and move closer to a Sinner Slam: holding all four major title trophies simultaneously.
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Reigning AO and US Open champion Sinner embraced Gasquet after closing the curtain on the 38-year-old French wild card’s glorious career. The pair shared some respectful words at net.
As a shotmaker, Richard Gasquet personified French flair.
Fittingly, Gasquet said farewell to tennis at the French Open.
Roland Garros Tournament Director Amelie Mauresmo presented Gasquet with a parting gift: An actual section of the red-clay court encased in a glass trophy with the words “Richard Gasquet Merci” embedded across the front.
Former world No. 7 Gasquet won 610 matches, captured 16 ATP titles, including three on red clay and earned more than $21 million in prize money over the course of a distinguished 22-year career.
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A former junior world No. 1, Gasquet shot to global attention when he shocked then No. 1 Roger Federer 20 years ago in Monte Carlo. On that day, Federer, seemingly unfamiliar with the teenager’s game, persistently probed that one-hander only to get burned by tremendous topspin strikes.
A two-time Wimbledon semifinalist, Gasquet finished four different seasons ranked inside the ATP Top 10 and gave devoted fans an everlasting experience of those wildly-creative one-handed topspin backhand drives.
In an early reminder, Gasquet zapped an ace and slashed a pair of one-handed backhand winners in his opening game.
A patient Sinner pierced the Frenchman’s weaker forehand wing banging out the break in the fourth game before stamping a love hold for 4-1.
Twenty-four minutes into the match, Gasquet turned back time.
Displaying the virtuoso volley skills he showed toppling Andy Roddick en route to the Wimbledon semifinals, Gasquet flicked a flashy full-stretch forehand volley holding for 2-4.
In his early years on the Tour, Sinner was one of the most consistent crosscourt players in the sport.
These days, the top seed can torch down the line flaming strikes off both wings.
Leaping high off the terre battue, Sinner scorched a flying backhand strike down the line ending a seven-minute game with the break to snatch the 39-minute opening set.
The toll of a physical first set was evident as Gasquet was losing his leg strength on serve in his first game of the second set. Gasquet spit up a pair of double faults then, trying to hit his way out of trouble, slapped a forehand long ceding Sinner the break.
A 17-shot baseline rally ended with Gasquet scooping a forehand wide as Sinner surged ahead 6-3, 3-0 after 57 minutes.
The Rome runner-up rolled through the love set. Sinner fired four winners in the final two games breaking for 5-4 then serving out a one hour, 57-minute triumph that marks the end of an era in French tennis.
Three-time major champion Sinner will play hard-hitting Jiri Lehecka of Czechia for a spot in the fourth round.
World No. 34 Lehecka stopped 26th-seeded Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-2. The winner of Sinner vs. Lehecka will face either 14th-seeded French hero Arthur Fils, who scored an epic and emotional five-set win today, or 17th-seeded Andrey Rublev for a quarterfinal spot.
Strolling through two rounds, Sinner is consider walking around Paris on his day off tomorrow.
"I'm someone, you know, in Grand Slams, I try to stay very relaxed, you know, and I feel like recovery is very important in these kind of tournaments," Sinner said. "But I also like, you know, to walk around at times. Going in the city, people recognize me a little bit less in Paris, so it's also good.
"So, you know, you can walk on the streets. It's nice. It's a city where what I really like now. So I have great memories here, so it's a nice city."