Nothing Major 67: Richard Gasquet on the Big 3, One-Handed Backhands & His Toughest Matchups (Part 2) | Ep 67
May 30, 2025
In a captivating chat, Richard Gasquet, former World No. 7 from France, shares insights from his illustrious tennis career. He discusses the evolution of the game and the artistry of the one-handed backhand, reflecting on his toughest rivals like Rafael Nadal. Gasquet reveals personal rituals and the challenges he faced in high-stakes matches, while ranking the best shots of his era. With a nod to the camaraderie among French players, this conversation is a nostalgic dive into tennis excellence, sprinkled with humor about quirks and upcoming merchandise.
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French Tennis Rivalry Pushes Success
- Richard Gasquet and his French peers pushed each other through intense rivalry and camaraderie during their early careers.
- This dynamic helped them maintain high performance and success over many years in French tennis.
Big Four Era's Challenge to Win
- The Big Four era made winning Grand Slams extraordinarily difficult due to the consistently high level of competition.
- Players like Alcaraz and Sinner show promise, but matching legends Federer, Nadal, and Djokovic remains a huge challenge.
One-Handed Backhand Greatness
- Richard Gasquet and Stan Wawrinka both boast among the best one-handed backhands in modern tennis.
- Gasquet believes their backhands, including Wawrinka's, surpass Federer's prime backhand despite Federer's mastery of the slice.