Richard Gasquet's relationship to tennis can be so maddeningly schizophrenic at times you sometimes wonder if he'd be be better served replacing his court-side seat with a therapist's couch.
The extraordinarily gifted Frenchman can play with the flashy flair of a man capable of producing streams of wondrous winners that flow like notes from a musical prodigy, but then struggle to find the motivation and stomach to compete when he's slightly off the mark.
At his best, Gasquet can be downright dazzling as he was three years ago when he stunned World No. 1 Roger Federer, 6-7(1), 6-2, 7-6(8) in the Monte Carlo quarterfinals two months before his 19th birthday.
Gasquet's game is fluent on any surface — his five career titles have come on four different surfaces: grass (2005 and 2006 Nottingham title), clay (2006 Gstaad), carpet (2006 Lyon) and hard court (2007 Mumbai). Though he regards his victory over Federer as his finest match, Gasquet showed his greatest grit in last summer's Wimbledon quarterfinals against two-time Wimbledon finalist Andy Roddick.
Staring down a two-set, 2-4 deficit, the 12th-seeded Gasquet appeared destined for a post-match handshake after a straight sets loss. Gasquet had never fought back from a two-set deficit and had not broken Roddick's serve in two prior meetings.
Summoning the electrifying shot making skills that make him one of the game's most talented young players, Gasquet sprang to life and fought back with emotional intensity for a stirring 4-6, 4-6, 7-6(2), 7-6(3), 8-6 victory.
Unleashing his brilliant one-handed backhand, Gasquet played like a man intent on delivering winners to every area of the court.
"After losing two sets, I decide to play more aggressive, to play with my backhand, to go to the net, to serve better, and to fight a lot," Gasquet said. "Yeah, I have nothing to lose after these two sets, so I wanted no pressure. I played with no pressure, a great backhand, and I served better. So it was incredible for me to play like that and to win this match. It's incredible."
The 21-year-old Gasquet concluded 2002 as the world's top-ranked junior, but much of his professional history against top 10 opponents has been a story of futility as Gasquet often plays well enough to compete against virtually any player on any surface, but balks at the prospect of serving out matches.
He has been tagged as a brilliant talent, but a mediocre competitor who can't quite consistently rouse himself to reach the heights he's capable of on a consistent basis. Case in point: Gasquet won a career-best 49 matches last season and finished with his highest year-end ranking (No. 8). Seemingly poised to solidify his status as a top 10 player, he has sputtered and fretted on the game's biggest stages this season.
Since losing to compatriot and Davis Cup teammate Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Australian Open quarterfinals, Gasquet has gone 5-7 in tournament play, losing his first matches in Miami, Rome and Hamburg and begging off playing a live match in the April Davis Cup quarterfinal against the United States.
His confidence and performance continued to plummet in Rome earlier this month when the ninth-seeded Frenchman capped a desultory second-set effort by dropping four consecutive games to fall, 6-4, 6-1, to 111th-ranked Peruvian qualifier Luis Horna in the opening round of the Rome Masters Series tournament.
Gasquet, who lost to American Sam Querrey in the third round of Monte Carlo last month, has failed to post back-to-back wins in six of the eight tournament he's played this season. The 2007 Wimbledon semifinalist said he felt lost on court after his loss in Rome.
"Today I played maybe my worst match of the year," Gasquet said. "After I started losing the first set I lost all my confidence and I was really lost on court. Anyone here could have beaten me today."
Seeking a fresh start, Gasquet split with long-time coach Eric Deblicker and will be coached by Guillaume Peyre, who works for the Team Lagardère organization and also coaches Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.
Can Gasquet turn his season around at Roland Garros — his favorite tournament and the place where he faces the most pressure? Certainly, he has the game to make inroads into the draw though he must overcome his crisis in confidence if he is to survive the first week for the first time in his career: the 2002 Roland Garros junior champion has failed to surpass the second round in five of his six appearances.
Scoop Malinowski, an accomplished recreational player who prefers clay largely because his racquet can survive the jarring landings when he hurls it following a temperamental tirade, caught up with Gasquet where the two sometime tortured artists collaborated on this interview.
Status: The ninth-ranked Frenchman has won five ATP singles titles, including titles on all four surfaces — carpet, grass, clay and hard. He also won 2004 French Open mixed doubles title with Tatiana Golovin. Gasquet has scored career wins over Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, James Blake, Tomas Berdych, Andy Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Nikolay Davydenko, Ivan Ljubicic and Gael Monfils.
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 165 pounds.
Born on: June 18, 1986 in Beziers, France.
Childhood Hero: "Zidane from France, football, you know?"
Tennis Inspiration: "The pleasure of playing, to hit the ball. There is pleasure and joy hitting the beautiful strokes."
Hobbies/Interests: "I like to be with friends in Paris. Because I am always in tournaments. And I like to be in Paris with my friends, to go out with them. To be in Paris to see my family. Sports I like football, rugby and golf."
Favorite Film: "Gladiator."
Musical Tastes: "I like everything in music, Coldplay."
First Job: "No, just tennis."
Early Tennis Memory: "My first tournament in ATP, it was in Monte Carlo (2002) and I won against (Franco) Squillari. My first ATP tournament. I was very surprised to be in the second round, to win him, he was 50 in the world. So it was incredible to me. I was 16 (actually 15 and 10 months). It was amazing."
Favorite Meal: "I like pizza."
Favorite Ice Cream Flavor: "Vanilla."
Pre-Match Feeling: "To do my best in every match. I don't feel a lot of pressure. I want to do my best before every match and during the match. To have success it is necessary to think about nothing else but the tennis."
Greatest Sports Moment: "So far, definitely winning three years ago in Monte Carlo, to win against number one in the world (Gasqueat beat Roger Federer, 6-7(1), 6-2, 7-6(8)). It was my best memory."
Most Painful Moment: "Playing badly in front of large crowds. Ah, my worst — U.S. Open (2004), disqualification in qualies. It was my worst match."
Favorite Tournament: "Roland Garros."
Closest Tennis Friends: "All French players. All French — Monfils, Mathieu, all French players."
Funniest Players Encountered: "Monfils is funny. Michael Llodra. Oh, he's the funniest guy on the Tour, of course. He's mad. He can do everything. In Key Biscayne he was nude in the locker [smiles]. He's mad, really mad."
Toughest Competitors: "I think Nadal, Federer, Safin, Hewitt, Roddick, the best players in the world."
Embarrassing Tennis Memory: "Embarrassing? Nothing embarrassing. Everything good. Maybe when I play with my coach and I broke his — he was at the net and I bruised him over the left eye. I hit a backhand off the top of the net and it went right into his face."
Favorite Vacation Spot: "In Paris, and in south of France. I was born in south of France but now I live in Paris. On holiday I like to go in south of France."
Favorite Athletes To Watch: "Technical players in soccer. Zidane. (Tennis?) Federer and Safin. (Boxing?) No. (Golf?) No. (Track and field?) Yeah, a little. But I prefer a game with a ball."
People Qualities Most Admired: "Honesty, sincerity."
