Gasquet was tipped for success but failed to fulfil expectations.
NEW YORK: Richard Gasquet let out a hoot before completing his job against the tenacious David Ferrer, much to the pleasure of a vocal crowd at the Arthur Ashe stadium.
Up two sets in the quarterfinals of the US Open, he was silenced by a typical rally from the consistent Spaniard before his one-handed backhand ripped apart the form book.
Just two days ago, he had thrown his sweaty socks on to the court after losing a closely-fought tie-breaker against Canada's Milos Raonic. He wasn't about to throw in the towel on Wednesday.
Breaking the barrier in three hours 23 minutes for a 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3 win, Gasquet kept it an hour shorter than his fourth-round match, when he had to defy a matchpoint. "For sure, I was tired after the Raonic match but I knew I could play another big match," the Frenchman said, shaking his weary leg.
The next one may be even shorter as he is bound to be given a run-around by old pal Rafael Nadal, who demolished Federer-conqueror Tommy Robredo without a second thought. At least that's what the Neuchatel resident believes.
With a head-to-head of 0-10, Gasquet has only taken three sets off the world No. 2. Things are not about to change unless he invokes the ghosts of the past.
In the obligatory post-match on-court interview, Gasquet recalled his exploits as a 13-year-old. "There is a YouTube video of me defeating Nadal in southern France. You can see I'm winning against him so I don't believe it sometimes. You know, it's good to win under-14, but it is better to win on the pro tour. I didn't know him when I was 13 years old. He was already fighting a lot, already running so much, and I remember I won maybe 6-4 in a set, and I told my father after, 'He's a big fighter.'"
Gasquet was tipped for success but failed to fulfil expectations, only managing to reach the semifinals of a Grand Slam once - Wimbledon in 2007. Nadal has won 12 Grand Slam titles including the 2010 US Open.
The lowest point of the man hailing from Beziers, the rust-belt of France, came in 2009 when he tested positive for cocaine. He was suspended for two-and-a-half months before earning his reprieve from what could have been a two-year ban when the Court of Arbitration for Sport accepted his claim that he was 'contaminated' after kissing a woman in a nightclub.
Nadal was the first to stand by his side then. He was also the first opponent he met after the short ban, in the first round of the US Open. "Rafa was the first to support me. If he ever needed me, I'd be there for him. I will never forget that," said the World No. 9.
He will be standing across the net on Saturday too, and Gasquet may be needing more help, self-help this time. "It was a great match and was one of my first international tournaments," Nadal said of the now-viral internet clip. "It was like the World Cup of junior tennis. Richard playedamazing that day - it was a great battle for me."
Will there be another battle for one of Spain's favourite sons? Gasquet has fuel in the tank. "Life is long, huh? We are only 27 years old. Even me. So why not? We will see."
Known for lacking the mental strength that bridges the gap between the good and the great, the Frenchman has proved a few points here. And he would love to earn a few more
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