"I tell them that what they are experiencing here is fabulous," says Gasquet, sparring partner for the French team before the Davis Cup match against Croatia.

Adrien Guyot

le 11/09/2025 à 11h35

2 min to read

Bonzi Gasquet Herbert Moutet Mpetshi Perricard Rinderknech

Richard Gasquet has been retired since Roland-Garros, but he hasn't abandoned tennis entirely. After representing France at the Hopman Cup alongside Chloé Paquet this summer, the 39-year-old from Béziers traveled with the French Davis Cup team to Osijek, where he is serving as a sparring partner for Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, Benjamin Bonzi, Arthur Rinderknech, Corentin Moutet, and Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

A winner of the silver salad bowl in 2017 with France against Belgium, the former world No. 7 knows the competition context very well and did not hesitate to give advice to his compatriots before facing Croatia.

"Paul-Henri (Mathieu) and Laurent (Raymond) asked me this summer to be here with the players, to get them playing, to be part of the team, and I immediately said yes because it's a pleasure to be here. If I can help with a few conversations from time to time...

Giovanni (Mpetshi Perricard) and his one-handed backhand, these are little discussions. Moutet, I know him well, seeing him start in the Davis Cup is great. You see a bit of yourself at their age. It's funny. And Pierre-Hugues (Herbert), with whom I played doubles.

I have good relationships with everyone. It's awesome to be here, I'm really enjoying it. It always gives me emotions being with people I appreciate. You feel the buzz being here, seeing the guys prepare. I can try to bring good vibes and a bit of experience.

There is pressure, even if it's not the same as when you're playing. You want to leave with a win. Nothing is easy in the Davis Cup. I've done some good things in the Davis Cup, others not so good.

But I know what the players might be going through. I tell them that what they're experiencing here is fabulous. These are, in any case, the best moments of my career, even if not everything was simple.

The matches I played were far above what I experienced elsewhere, despite my Grand Slam semifinals (Wimbledon in 2007 and 2015, and the US Open in 2013). The Davis Cup is another level.

And I also thank the players for welcoming me and being nice to me. It's a very good group. For a post-career phase, it sincerely makes me happy! It feels good to be with young people; I'm getting older," Gasquet told L'Équipe.