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Richard Gasquet backhand ATP Tour former number 7
ATP Tennis Players, Tennis News

‘It is a fast court. I like to play on it’, says Richard Gasquet after 550th career win


Richard Gasquet became the sixth active player to win 550 ATP matches after beating Marco Cecchinato in the first round of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

The world No. 49 joined Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Fernando Verdasco in the exclusive club of current players to reach the milestone.

The 34-year-old Frenchman defeated Cecchinato 6-4, 6-2, and will next face Hubert Hurkacz in the second round of the ATP 500 event on Tuesday.

“I am feeling great here. I know this court well. I played well (here) last year. It is a fast court. I like to play on it,” Gasquet said in his on-court interview.

“It is important to serve well and it was a great match. I started well, feeling confident and winning the first set and then I played better in the second set.

“It’s been a difficult start (to the year), I need confidence. I need to feel better on court, to be healthy. Last week (in Doha), I couldn’t finish the tournament. Couldn’t play in Australia, so it’s very difficult for me.

“I’m trying my best to recover, and then when I will be fit I think I can play very well, but for the moment I need to work on it.”


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Tim Farthing, Tennishead Editorial Director & Owner, has been a huge tennis fan his whole life. He's a tennis journalist and entrepreneur as well as playing tennis to a national standard. He also helps manage his local club and volunteers for his local tennis organisation. He's a specialist in content about the administration of professional tennis and tennis coaching for all levels.