Gasquet keeps the dream alive in Paris

For the moment, however, 166-ranked Gasquet is busy grinding out wins in Paris. 

With many close friends and family in attendance, and chants of Allez Richard! Allez Richard! ringing from the rafters, Gasquet put forth a gritty performance, managing the nerves and the moment to send off 23-year-old French wild card Terence Atmane. 

Thus the 38-year-old, known for his all-court elegance and legendary one-handed backhand, kicked off a record 22nd Roland-Garros in style and prolonged his career for at least another round. 

Story of the match 

Gasquet’s first meeting with the Saint-Martin-Boulogne native proved treacherous in the early going, as Atmane was the more aggressive player and forced Gasquet into a defensive posture for much of the first two and a half sets. 

After a timid start that saw Atmane, who was contesting his third Grand Slam main draw match, quickly fall behind by a double-break, the world No.121 found his groove and proceeded to dominate the second set. 

He saved two break points to start to turn the tide in the opening game of set two, and broke Gasquet in the fifth game to lead 4-1. Atmane broke again to seal the middle set but his fortunes would turn in the third as he tempted fate and drew the ire of the pro-Gasquet crowd. 

An underarm ace against an adored legend drew jeers from the stands, and Atmane, eager to play the villain, then goaded them from his chair. Atmane, now pressing his luck, broke to level the set in the next game but the tennis Gods seemed to favour Gasquet the rest of the way. 

Right on cue, Atmane commenced cramping and with his movement now severely hampered, he was left with no option but to inject more risk into his already daring game. It was all Gasquet from there as the former world No.7 motored through the final nine games to secure safe passage. 

For the veteran Frenchman the relief was palpable when it was over. 

"I've had a month where I've been in a lot of pain, it's been difficult to prepare, I've had a lot of injuries but I really wanted to come here,” Gasquet said during his on-court interview with Lucas Pouille. “This is the last time and it's very special for me. I'm happy to have won this first round, I didn't know what to expect.”

Key stats 

With his win, Gasquet has become the first French player in the Open era to win a singles main draw match at Roland-Garros after having turned 38 years old. He recorded his 117th Grand Slam win, which is third all-time among Frenchmen. 

Gasquet, who first played the main draw on the Parisian clay in 2002, is making his 75th career Grand Slam appearance, which ranks fourth all time. 

Atmane was on fire from the forehand wing, firing 31 winners, but the southpaw’s 38 unforced errors thwarted his efforts, particularly in the third and fourth sets.

Embracing the moment 

Gasquet is excited to have another chance to chase the dream, even if his next challenge will be more daunting. He’ll face world No.1 Jannik Sinner, who found his way past Arthur Rinderknech in Monday’s night session in Paris. 

“It's amazing for me to be back on Centre Court, to be able to play here again, to have two days to prepare,” he said. “If it's against Sinner, it's bound to be difficult, but I know that with the support of the crowd, it's going to be an extraordinary match."

The Frenchman also expressed gratitude that he has so many friends and family to share his last professional event with. 

"It's extraordinary for me that everyone is here,” he said. “My father is in Béziers but he probably watched the match. It could have been my last match, so I really wanted my friends from Béziers to be here as well as those from Paris. And they'll be able to come back on Thursday.

"I'll be able to come back and train at Roland-Garros tomorrow and that's extraordinary."