In April 2005, an 18-year-old French kid defeated the world number one Roger Federer 6-7. 6-2, 7-6 in the quarterfinals of Monte Carlo Masters Series. It was an epic match in which the kid not only outperformed Federer but also outclassed him. Even on his off days, Federer isn’t easily outclassed by any stretch of imagination; but this kid had managed to do that, becoming the youngest player to defeat the world number one.
In the words of the commentators:
“A star is born…Today at Monte Carlo he has beaten a legend in the game of tennis… Perhaps he will be in the same boat one day.”
The kid was Richard Gasquet. Many, including me, believed in the commentators' words not only because he managed to beat Federer, but also because he had delivered on his potential.
Gasquet, from Serignan, in southern France, even at 18 was not new to tennis. He featured on the front of the French Tennis magazine with the caption “Is Richard G the champion France is eagerly waiting for?” when he was nine years old. At the age of 15 years, 10 months, he became the youngest player ever to qualify for as well as win a match in a Tennis Masters event in 2002. A month later, he was the second youngest player to participate in the French Open.
Gasquet finished 2002 as the numero uno junior tennis player in the world and was named World Junior Champion, having won the junior titles at the French Open and the US Open. He was also the youngest player to finish in year-end ATP top 200.
At 21, he became one the three active players to have won a title on every surface. He ended the year 2007 at world number 8th position.
In a Davis Cup match against Marat Safin, British TV presenter Barry Cowan described him as “naturally more talented than Federer." The critics called him “baby Federer” for his technically sound game.
The French media had already heralded him as their bastion of hope and called him “Mozart of tennis” when he was just 15 years old.
“Great talents are the most lovely and often the most dangerous fruits on the tree of humanity. They hang upon the most slender twigs that are easily snapped off.”- Carl Jung
Gasquet is one of the most talented players to come out of France with the potential to win more than one Grand Slam. But he has failed to win any and of late, he has been struggling with injuries and losses. The French fans are already labeling him as microwave for his ability to cool down after a sudden hot streak. The French media too aren’t taking his underachievements lightly. They needed him to win Slams as badly as he did to prove himself as soon as possible.
The French media and fans have been taunting Gasquet for the shying away from the responsibilities and not delivering to his potential. The Gallic French media have enjoyed every bit of their role in launching a scathing attack on him and piling up misery over misery over him.
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