Richard Gasquet's Bizarre Comeback Story Spoiled By a Hungry Nadal

Before baseball icon Manny Ramirez and female fertility drugs, before news broke that the Boston Red Sox's (former) Mr. Clutch David Ortiz tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, before NBA All-Star Rashard Lewis was suspended ten games for allegedly taking testosterone boosting supplements, a man kissed a woman and received a suspension from his sport lasting two-and-a-half months.

That man was Richard Gasquet, a former child prodigy in tennis circles and France's No. 1 tennis player, who tested positive for having cocaine in his system during the course of the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, FL.  He withdrew from the tournament in the second round citing shoulder injuries, and the unimaginable media firestorm in his home country of France, began.

Gasquet appealed the decision and stated that the amount of cocaine in his system was minuscule enough that it was possible he received it through the exchange of saliva between himself and a 23 year-old woman at a nightclub.  Citing Gasquet's negligence, but not his willing consumption of cocaine, the ITF subsequently overturned its ruling by virtue of appeal and lessened his sentence to two months and fifteen days, post-dated to begin May 1st, 2009, thus effectively permitting him to return to tennis July 16, 2009.

It was no "kiss of death" as the media termed it, but it was certainly a massive hindrance to the young Gasquet, 23, who has much of his playing years ahead of him if his all-surface form and raw, once-in-a-generation talent is any indication.

Of those who lobbied for the case of Gasquet included countryman Fabrice Santoro, who gave a statement the day the story broke, former No. 1 Marat Safin, and a most curious former No. 1, Rafael Nadal.

Gasquet stated, "Rafa supported me more than anyone in the last few months and if he ever needs me to help him, I will do what I can.  I'll never forget what he's done for me."

The U.S. Open was Gasquet's re-entry into large-scale tennis, and his performance showed signs of rust.  It was another comeback, however, the much ballyhooed return of Rafael Nadal, that showed signs of a potential tournament threat to World No. 1 Roger Federer. 

As for the offer of help from Gasquet, Rafa really didn't need any.  Nadal, in all of his sprightly youthful exuberance, was chasing down volleys and running around the court true to his nickname-sake, The Bull.  His ferocity and subsequent destruction of Gasquet came in a brief, 6-2 6-2 6-3 straight-sets victory in just over a hundred minutes.

While off the court Gasquet and Nadal may become friends, on the court, Rafa is all business, and after such an inspiring first-round performance ("I played well, no?"),  Rafa does not look like he will be willing to close shop until he walks away with the U.S. Open trophy.