Gasquet Honest About Nadal: "I Couldn't Take It Anymore and Developed a Big Complex"
Richard Gasquet will be present for his final Roland-Garros this coming May. On the tour since 2002, the native of Béziers has faced the world's best players over the years, including Rafael Nadal 18 times. The Spaniard has always come out on top against the Frenchman.
In an interview with Eurosport, the former world No. 7 reflected on his matches against the Mallorcan:
"I stepped onto the court with less and less intention, which is terrible, because usually, the more you progress, the more convinced you are that you’ll find a solution.
I played him for the first time on tour in Estoril, where I lost, but it didn’t scare me at all because I knew him. I’d already faced him once in a Challenger.
I trained with him, and we were 50-50, so I felt he didn’t intimidate me at all. Even in Monaco (in 2005), when he was already monstrous, I knew I could beat him—his game didn’t impress me at all.
Then, I lost at the Masters Tournament, then in Toronto, and so on in the series. Sometimes in three sets. But as time went on, it got harder. He became stronger and improved more than I did.
I couldn’t take it anymore, and I started developing a big complex. It was simply too strong and too difficult for me."
