Roger Federer has been a nightmare for a lot of gamers, having prevented them from profitable as they might have deserved. The 20-time Grand Slam champion was the primary ‘dominator’ of the brand new millennium, adopted by Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic. The Large 3 have been monopolizing the male tour for about 20 years, breaking nearly all current information and exhibiting a consistency throughout the 12 months that was not even conceivable earlier than their arrival. The previous Swiss champion – who retired two years in the past from the Laver Cup – has gained 20 Grand Slam titles and topped the ATP rankings for greater than 300 weeks earlier than this document was snatched away by Djokovic.
Because of the extraordinary achievements in Melbourne and Paris in 2022, Rafa has hoisted himself to 22 Main titles proving to be a residing legend. The all-time document is held by Djokovic, who has taken 24 Slam titles and went very near the ‘Calendar Grand Slam’ in 2021.
The Large 3’s period is over, with Federer retiring in 2022 and Nadal getting ready to welcome skilled tennis to the Davis Cup Finals later this month. Their place needs to be taken by Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz, who appear to have the precise necessities to start out a brand new period and make historical past of this sport.
Gasquet on beating Federer
Among the many gamers who’ve felt the presence of the Large 3, there may be actually Richard Gasquet. The French participant had a extremely good profession, however he couldn’t win even a Grand Slam title due to these three sacred monsters alongside his journey. Throughout a French TV present, Gasquet recalled his well-known win over King Roger in Monte Carlo in 2005: “The issue is that behind it, there are nineteen wins for him and two for me. It was troublesome. The period was brutal. When you could have Djokovic, Federer, Nadal on all tournaments, it’s not straightforward. It was a beautiful time, however beating Roger Federer in Monaco is one among my finest victories on the ATP tour.”
The French champion additionally mirrored on his rivalry with Nadal: “For positive, unhealthy for me as a result of I misplaced 18 instances, particularly once I performed towards him on clay. Even on exhausting courtroom, I misplaced, you realize, final one within the US Open. I misplaced to him many instances. It was robust, particularly. His sport was tough for mine. He is among the finest gamers in historical past, so, after all, it was robust for me to face him each time.
Richard and Rafa have recognized one another since they have been youngsters and – originally of their careers – it was exactly French that was thought of predestined by nearly all these concerned. “I keep in mind the primary time I noticed him. I used to be 13 years outdated. I performed him in Les Petit As in Tarbes, France. We performed an enormous match. I gained, I believe. It was the primary time and the final time,” Gasquet acknowledged. “I keep in mind all of the vitality he had. Now, he is 38 years outdated, he is nonetheless the identical man. It was wonderful how a lot vitality he had exterior the courtroom, and inside after all. That is why he is an unimaginable participant and an unimaginable individual. That is why he is Rafa Nadal,” he added.
Richard will retire quickly
Richard’s profession may be very near its conclusion, which is able to happen within the subsequent version of the French Open. Though he has an enormous love for the game, Gasquet is conscious that he can not compete for the highest titles and doesn’t wish to drag on too lengthy. “As quickly as I introduced it, one thing hit me inside. It was my final time right here, I used to be tense, you realize it is the final time, you are conscious always. Ultimately, he performed higher than me and that is it, at no level did I surrender, however I could not pull off these wonderful pictures, which is in the end what it is about. It nonetheless evokes a ardour, it was unimaginable to see so many individuals in a primary spherical, it wasn’t straightforward to ship that speech in entrance of them” – he defined.
The French ace additionally spoke about his 2025 schedule: “I want to play Montpellier and Marseille for the final time, they’re near my coronary heart. Monaco as properly, I would prefer to undergo the qualifying part, together with some Challengers in France and Roland Garros. There are some stunning tournaments forward that would assist me have an excellent season, so I hope to have continuity on the courtroom. Many requested me if I’d retire at Paris-Bercy or Roland Garros, however I believe ending it at Roland Garros is an efficient selection, ending your sports activities profession is rarely straightforward, ending this match this manner has moved me deeply.”
