If Gasquet Had Ferrer's forehand, how many more titles would he have won?

[tennispro492]

Notice I didn't say Federer's or Nadal's forehand, or any other all time great forehand, but Ferrer's. Ferrer's is a very solid forehand with great aim and decent power, but not the most powerful. If Gasquet possessed this forehand, with his current serve, movement and GOAT backhand, how many more titles would he have won? A few masters perhaps? Maybe even a slam? Discuss.

 

[Graf=GOAT]

Gasquet's biggest problem is his lack of mental strength and poor fitness, not lack of technique.

 

[bahamasboy32]

Ferrer's forehand isnt what I would call an amazing shot. I would say Murray has as good or better a forehand than Ferrer, and I wouldnt even put Murray's forehand top 15 today. Ferrer has nothing amazing about his game, maybe a top 10 mover and defender, and a top 10 return of serve, and that is it. His biggest asset is his willingness to work and fight and give full effort at all times. That is why he is ranked higher than about 30 guys more talented than he is.

Gasquet lacks both the game or the mentality to be any higher than he now is. He was called an underachiever for years, but I think what we are seeing now and saw in 2007 is about the max of his potential. Well i guess if he had the effort level and work ethic of Ferrer he could have been top 5 at a weak time like Ferrer now is, since he is atleast more talented than Ferrer, but Ferrer's work ethic, consistency, and desire is not the level that most have.

 

[Lukhas]

Anyone who saw that semi-final... When Nadal decides to bully your FH when you're both right-handed AND have a one-hander, there's a problem. Either your 1HBH is so godly that Nadal doesn't want to waste time even bothering attacking it, either your FH sucks. Or both. That match showed us what happens when he is denied the use of his BH by a very high level opponent. His FH isn't good enough to be a viable alternative, or at least be able to redirect the rally towards Nadal's BH which is really solid but not a monster either.

Moreover, you don't happen to win two 5 setters back to back with a lack of mental. Especially against Ferrer against whom he had a terrible mental complex and H2H [2-8]. I'm too lazy to find and translates some French interviews of it, but it's well known that Gasquet has/had mental problems against Ferrer.

I also think that his problem ain't fitness. His very good early preparation in the off-season 12/13 showed good results, and his much better fitness allowed him to regain his top 10 rank. Previously, he used to build physical shape during the season. This time he was ready from the get-go, which is much better than before. Of course it ain't perfect, but it is an area where he significantly improved this year. Of course there was that ankle injury that costs him some ATP race point earlier this year, but that's what you earn by playing very often on slow hardcourts.

At this point of time, it's more than time he modifies his FH, it's costing him matches. It's more than a decent enough shot against lower level opponents, but it's clearly not enough against higher level players. To be fair, I dislike the question of the OP, or any kind of question that resembles it. But I also think Ferrer's FH is more solid than Gasquet's in tight moments and that it would be an improvement to have a similar one. Gasquet happens to have a FH that sits between the "modern" one and the "classic" one: lack of "pat the dog", old-school wind-up but using a WW finish. DelPotro can make it work, but he ain't named the "Tower of Tandil" for nothing.
I'd indeed modify his FH to be a totally modern stroke, using his core muscles much more, having a proper "pat the dog" in his backswing and all the yadda-yadda you may already know if you're crazy enough to visit the Tips and Instruction forum.