"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.
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.
