Richard Gasquet – Michel Euler / AP / SIPA
Richard Gasquet did what he could against Rafael Nadal on Thursday night in the second round at Roland Garros. He even had the merit of saving the honor after a nightmarish first set where he did not register the slightest game. But the march was as expected ten times too high for the French on the Chatrier, where we do not go out. without aftereffects of a duel against the master of the place.
“You are never relaxed at 6-0, 1-0, there are only those who play it who know what it is to be in the middle of the Central against Nadal, testifies our national Richie. I tried to fight, to do the maximum, it’s been a long time since I have played such high level matches. There is no player who plays like that, with such a strong, powerful forehand. With each ball, the intensity is maximum, there is not a ball that you can play softly, otherwise the penalty is immediate. “
A monster
Gasquet congratulates himself on his second set. But this one perhaps symbolizes even better the gap that will forever separate the two men. Because when Nadal decides that the party is over, there is nothing more to do.
“In the second set, I managed streaks where I played hard, I started to really believe in it and to have fun on the court. But afterwards, it is certain that playing Nadal is a brutal experience. It has nothing to do with anyone. It’s a monster. ” Needless to say. No human can win Roland-Garros 13 times.