Rafael Nadal one of his old rivals with some bitter memories (Image: Getty)
One of ’s old rivals has admitted that he’s been left with regret after watching the Spaniard retire.
Richard Gasquet, who will also hang up his racket next year, had a 0-18 record against the 22-time Grand Slam champion and will never get another chance to try and beat him.
While the Frenchman has a good relationship with Nadal, he said it felt “horrible” to have such a one-sided rivalry.
Nadal recently ended his career, . In the weeks since, some of his colleagues have been sharing their memories of his time on tour.
But one man doesn’t have the best recollections of facing the former world No. 1. Gasquet has known Nadal since they were kids travelling on the junior circuit, first meeting when they were just 12 years old.
However, in all their years on the professional tennis tour, the former world No. 7 never got a single victory against Nadal. They faced off 18 times between 2004 and 2022, with the Spaniard winning every time.
Gasquet still can’t see the funny side of his lopsided head-to-head, telling RMC Sport’s Super Moscato show: “It’s horrible.
Richard Gasquet will end his career with a 0-18 record against Rafael Nadal (Image: Getty)
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“I’m not going to lie and say that it was a pleasure. I regret not having beaten him. And now he’s retired, so I won’t be able to beat him as a professional.”
Gasquet did get some wins over Nadal in their junior days and always hoped that would translate to the ATP Tour. And he still remembers one particularly painful defeat in 2005, when he felt he should have defeated the former No. 1.
The 38-year-old continued: “I have known him since I was young and I was not afraid of him. I beat him when I was 13 and I thought I could beat him in Monaco.
“But then I had a bad time and he grew up, there is no doubt about it. It was tough. When you are an athlete and you have never beaten an opponent, it hurts.”
Gasquet will soon join Nadal in retirement. On the same day that the Spaniard announced his own plans to end his career, the current world No. 129
The 16-time title winner has already started his farewell tour. He was following his final appearance at the tournament.
“I’m lucky to be in good physical shape, to play well, to be able to pretend to expect winning some matches. I try not to be wounded and to enjoy as much as I can. I’ll try to carry on until the French Open,” he said afterwards.