Stats - Gasquet, a 20-year generation gap at Metz
By beating Thiago Monteiro in the first round of the Moselle 2024 Open on Monday evening, Richard Gasquet became the second oldest player (38 years and 4 months) to win a singles match in Metz.
The first is Stan Wawrinka, who was 38 years and 7 months old when he reached the second round last year.
If the statistics become even more interesting, it's because Gasquet was already the second-youngest player to win a match at Metz. In October 2004, the Frenchman, then aged 18 years and 3 months, beat Dutchman Dennis Van Scheppingen in the first round.
Gasquet went on to reach the final of the tournament that year. In the quarters, he beat a certain Gaël Monfils, who had just set the record for earliness by beating Xavier Malisse in the first round at the age of 18 years and 2 months. Did you say longevity?