I feel sorry for Gasquet

[All-rounder]

This is now the second time that he has been 2 sets to love up on his opponent in a grand slam and let it slip first it was andy murray at wimbledon now it was gonzo, for sure i thought he was winning it straight sets but he cracked again i just start thinking that he will never win a grand slam

Your thoughts?

 

[Underhand]

He's a classic French choker.

 

[MajinX]

he did it to andy roddick wimble 07 lol.. so its kinda like karma, altho yes it does suck to lose such a close match.

 

[veritech]

i feel bad for him, too. it looked like the chilean crowd was getting under his skin during the tiebreak.

 

[Jackie T. Stephens]

My thoughts are.. he's going to win anyways.

 

[Mick]

that was a great match. i don't think gasquet lost it, it was more like gonzalez won it because later in the fifth set, both of them hit mostly winners to win the points.

 

[Fiercer]

that was a great match. i don't think gasquet lost it, it was more like gonzalez won it because later in the fifth set, both of them hit mostly winners to win the points.

If you don't win, you lose. And Gasquet didn't win in the end, so he lost. Get the logic?

Didn't mean to rub it in

 

[Jackie T. Stephens]

If you don't win, you lose. And Gasquet didn't win in the end, so he lost. Get the logic?

Didn't mean to rub it in

Oh... I get it!

 

[LeeD]

There's always the guy at the opposite side of the court.
He's trying just as hard as you.
He practices just as much.
He runs just as fast.
Results in tennis is the SUM of the two parts.

 

[Mick]

after watching the gonzalez-gasquet and nadal-haas matches, i don't know if gonzalez should fear nadal or nadal should fear gonzalez

probably nadal should fear gonzalez because he's ranked #1 and has more pressure to perform than gonzalez does

 

[Sentinel]

As much as I love his backhand, otherwise Gasquet is just embarrassing.
Comes across as a mental midget :-(

I was watching the Nadal-Haas match on telly so missed this.

Mick, i take your post to mean Gonzo is in great, no devastating, shape. But tell me why he lost the first 2 sets 3 and 3 ?
Anyway, would be great to see a Gonzo on fire -- i missed the AO 07!

 

[RFdaBest]

I feel sorry for Gasquet too. He is a really good player but he always succumbs to injuries in big matches. I dont think all hope is lost for gasquet, plenty of players have made turn arounds in the later stages of there careers and I think gasquet can win a couple of masters and a GS.

 

[Jackie T. Stephens]

after watching the gonzalez-gasquet and nadal-haas matches, i don't know if gonzalez should fear nadal or nadal should fear gonzalez

probably nadal should fear gonzalez because he's ranked #1 and has more pressure to perform than gonzalez does

Nadal should definitely fear Gonzalez.

 

[Breaker]

As much as I love his backhand, otherwise Gasquet is just embarrassing.
Comes across as a mental midget :-(

I was watching the Nadal-Haas match on telly so missed this.

It wasn't embarrassing at all. Besides one missed oppourtunity with a backhand down the line that hit the tape on match point third set there weren't any glaring things to put him down for. He played great but Gonzo took it from him with stunning play and brilliant shotmaking, Gasquet did the same and looked dominant on his service games but Gonzalez was hitting in '07 form and cancelled out Gasquet's great play.

Great match, nothing to be ashamed of from what I saw.

 

[Tennis_Goodness]

Gasquet must improve and he can improve ALOT! He is no where near the physical athletes that Federer, Nadal, Murray, or Novak are! He must really dedicate himself to the physical parts of the game and work on his mental part as well!

I think he can be a top 5 player and maybe even a future number 1. He's just got to work for it. He has to do more than what he's doing. He should have won this match and has more talent than Gonzo but again the work needs to be done in the training room and court, not in the slams and tournaments!

 

[S H O W S T O P P E R !]

OH CRAP I'm watching the match on ESPN and now the score is spoiled D: But yeah, he's had some tough times in his career.

 

[Deleted member 25923]

I hope he can find some good form this year. Watching him play is very entertaining. I love his simple service motion. A very good model to copy.

 

[All-rounder]

i think gonzo can get a set off nadal as haas is way past his prime so nadal shouldn't of had any trouble with the win but gonzo just has that forehand that got the better of gasquet

 

[federer envies me]

gasguet deserved to win that tiebreak and the match! that crowd was unfair

 

[vtmike]

after watching the gonzalez-gasquet and nadal-haas matches, i don't know if gonzalez should fear nadal or nadal should fear gonzalez

probably nadal should fear gonzalez because he's ranked #1 and has more pressure to perform than gonzalez does

Nadal has nothing fear....I mean after a 5 set match with 12-10 in the final set, and injuries he doesn't have the legs to beat Nadal.....Nadal will probably make him run until he crashes and burns......

 

[SoCal10s]

As much as I love his backhand, otherwise Gasquet is just embarrassing.
Comes across as a mental midget :-(

Gasquet didn't go mental and lost the match he just didn't have another gear to go up to... there was a point where he had GonZo(volleying) dead aim in the 5th set around 8all and instead of going right at Gonzo's body(Gasquet was around the service line)with a big forehand, he went for the passing shot down the line,Gonzo just stick his racket for a winner... that point would have made the difference...Gasquet needs a bit more killer instinct .... I would have pegged that netman..if the netman doesn't turn his side to me,it means he's ready, I'm going at his body hard..

 

[Frankauc]

i dont really like gasquet. But i watched the 5th set and i must say that this one could have gone eitherway. Gasquet was playing really great and he was putting more pression on Gozo's serve but on the break points, Gonzo hit amazing shots while under so much pressure. That was amazingly close. I dont think gasquet choked at all, sure not in the fifth set.

 

[vtmike]

Gasquet must improve and he can improve ALOT! He is no where near the physical athletes that Federer, Nadal, Murray, or Novak are! He must really dedicate himself to the physical parts of the game and work on his mental part as well!

I think he can be a top 5 player and maybe even a future number 1. He's just got to work for it. He has to do more than what he's doing. He should have won this match and has more talent than Gonzo but again the work needs to be done in the training room and court, not in the slams and tournaments!

Yes I think in the end it was all about physical fitness....and Gasquet looked worse than Gonzo......but yeah I kinda sorry for the guy too.....he played really well......wonder if he can come this metal setback......

PS: Novak isn't really a good example for physical fitness

 

[Bhagi Katbamna]

I feel sorry for him too. For those that say he choked, did you see his inside-out forehand when he was down the first match point? He didn't choke. Gonzales picked up his level of play and Gasquet was playing in the zone for the first 2 sets.

 

[Beasty54]

After Gasquet saved that first match point I so wanted him to win.

 

[RestockingTues]

Gonzales is improving A LOT though, nice to see he's finally confident enough with his backhand to drive with topspin on it

 

[Tennis_Goodness]

Yes I think in the end it was all about physical fitness....and Gasquet looked worse than Gonzo......but yeah I kinda sorry for the guy too.....he played really well......wonder if he can come this metal setback......

PS: Novak isn't really a good example for physical fitness

Novaks got good fitness, i'm just saying his fitness is alot better than Gasquets. I do think that does play a part in winning at the highest level.

 

[Tennis360]

Gasquet completely outplayed Gonzo in the first 2 sets - he was playing like it was his last match...he attacked Gonzo's backhand and went to the net as often as he could...very aggressive play but he couldn't sustain the level. 3rd set tiebreak he had matchpoint but his backhand caught the tape - how unlucky. 4th set he had broke his toenail and had shoulder problem but got back on the 5th set - had 5 BPs, but Gonzo played well on those BPs...Gasquet was initially holding serve easily but still to no avail at the end.....I wouldn't call it a choke....great fight showed by both players. indeed a high quality match with great shotmaking from both especially gasquet with that backhand...in a very close match like this, it can go either way as small errors are being magnified...Too bad someone has to lose...if there is a "draw" in tennis, I would call it a "draw": both players had 191 total points won; both had 6 out of 14 BP conversions; Gonzo took the 3rd set 12-10 and ended the match 12-10 (how odd are these stats?)

As a Gasquet fan, i did not like the outcome, but i absolutely commend his effort, heart and his gutsy play. He gave everything he had and I'm sure he will come back stronger.....I'm still optimistic he can have his big moment someday.

 

[tacou]

anyone who says gasquet choked or he's embarassing did not see the match. it was incredible, one of the best I've ever seen. as much as I wanted Richie to win I can't be too mad cause both me deserved it.

other than losing (obviously) I think this was actually a very positive match for Richie:
1) I have not seen him play this well since at least 2007.
2) He actually showed fighting spirit!
3) Stamina. whoever said he's physically fragile is wrong. he was bombing serves and ripping winners well into the long 5th set.

and finally #4 may not come true, but after such a difficult defeat we will see if Richie can maintain those positives and make 09 better than 08.

 

[sonicboi21]

i watched the match on espn. gasquet was so close and when the chilean crows cheered when gasquet faulted, that was just going overboard. people like them shouldnt be allowed in tennis matches. this is why the level of prestige tennis had is now gone.

 

[dh003i]

i feel bad for him, too. it looked like the chilean crowd was getting under his skin during the tiebreak.

What is wrong with those people? They were acting like barbarians! The same of the Hungarians and Bosnians (I think) who had the ruckus outside the AO. Then a few years ago, there were the fans of Baghdatis.

 

[Tennis_Goodness]

anyone who says gasquet choked or he's embarassing did not see the match. it was incredible, one of the best I've ever seen. as much as I wanted Richie to win I can't be too mad cause both me deserved it.

other than losing (obviously) I think this was actually a very positive match for Richie:
1) I have not seen him play this well since at least 2007.
2) He actually showed fighting spirit!
3) Stamina. whoever said he's physically fragile is wrong. he was bombing serves and ripping winners well into the long 5th set.

and finally #4 may not come true, but after such a difficult defeat we will see if Richie can maintain those positives and make 09 better than 08.

He's not physically fragile BUT if he wants to make that next step he's gonna have to train and work harder. Clearly physically the top 5 trump him in that regard on almost every level! Their faster, stronger, and have more stamina. This is something he can overcome though and is a step he MUST take otherwise he will continue to have these very close matches he should have won!

 

[Tennis360]

What is wrong with those people? They were acting like barbarians! The same of the Hungarians and Bosnians (I think) who had the ruckus outside the AO. Then a few years ago, there were the fans of Baghdatis.

they even set out a little fire after the match....which is weird in tennis...haven't seen that before...but really the cheering of double faults is unclassy.

 

[Tennis360]

He's not physically fragile BUT if he wants to make that next step he's gonna have to train and work harder. Clearly physically the top 5 trump him in that regard on almost every level! Their faster, stronger, and have more stamina. This is something he can overcome though and is a step he MUST take otherwise he will continue to have these very close matches he should have won!

Agree. but I think his camp said he was working physically harder than ever during the off season.....having said that, this is just the beginning and nothing can be done overnight. I can see better results in the future for him.

 

[matchmaker]

Well, tennis is about winners and losers...

Gonzo won two 5 setters where he was trailing two sets behind: against Wawrinka and Gasquet.

Gasquet lost two 5 setters where he was two sets up: against Murray and Gonzalez.

That pretty much sums it up.

And that is also the reason why Gasquet will never win a GS IMO.

Someone like Gonzalez rather uses his talent to more than full potential whereas Gasquet will probably be known forever as un underachiever.

Mind you, the match was fantastic and I think people also tend to underestimate the physical abilities of Gonzalez. The two five-setters I saw him win he clearly had his opponents on the ropes by the end of the match whereas he was still going strong.

 

[Dilettante]

There's a difference between players that "almost win" and players than win actually. Sometimes one can't appreciate the difference just watching them play, but that precise difference is what makes a player a champion or not.

Gasquet still is in the "almost win" category. Yes, he has a stylish game, and he sometimes push great players to the limit. But that is something that many players do from time to time.

He needs to step up a level yet. Djokovic, Murray, Del Potro did it. Let's see if he's able to.

 

[Element54]

I felt sorry too.

 

[Mick]

is gasquet your favorite french player at this tournament ?
mine is simon even though i think he won't win

 

[MEAC_ALLAMERICAN]

He is a talented mental midget, what is there to feel sorry about?

The fact that he doesn't want to win or is just scared to win, I for one does not feel sorry for him.

 

[Feña14]

is gasquet your favorite french player at this tournament ?
mine is simon even though i think he won't win

I've been enjoying watching Simon, Monfils and Tsonga.

Gasquet? I could care less about him.

 

[TheMusicLover]

From what I've read about the match so far (couldn't watch it) I conclude that it was NOT a case of Gasquet 'choking' here, in stead, he played very well. So I feel sorry for him as well, as I always do for the loser of a tight 5-setter. Hopefully better luck for him next time!

What is wrong with those people? They were acting like barbarians! The same of the Hungarians and Bosnians (I think) who had the ruckus outside the AO. Then a few years ago, there were the fans of Baghdatis.

People who act like this should be thrown out of a tennis arena immediately. We don't need football hooligans infesting the game!

 

[veroniquem]

is gasquet your favorite french player at this tournament ?
mine is simon even though i think he won't win

I agree that Simon could go far in this tournament but no way will he win it. He's not THAT good yet.

 

[JeMar]

I'd rather see Gonzalez play Nadal since at least he has a chance, rather than see Gasquet go down in flames as he always does after winning a great match

 

[Feña14]

I'd rather see Gonzalez play Nadal since at least he has a chance, rather than see Gasquet go down in flames as he always does after winning a great match

Remember when Gonzalez destroyed Nadal on his way to the final? Hopefully we'll get something just as entertaining.

 

[JeMar]

I'm with you 100% on that one.

It's not likely to happen, though. Nadal is a better player now.

 

[Feña14]

I'm with you 100% on that one.

It's not likely to happen, though. Nadal is a better player now.

Very true. I seem to remember it was after this match where Nadal came out with his famous quote.. "Well, it's not just the one place. I have pain here, in my famous ass (smiling)."

I wonder what he'll come out with if Gonzalez destroys him again

 

[pow]

I don't know how Gonzo will play against Nadal with that horrible backhand.