The French Tennis Player, Richard Gasquet feels that it has been brutal playing in the same era with tennis stalwarts like Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal. According to him, the three leading players have amassed as many as fifty-two titles of Grand Slams, which has left almost nothing for the other players and they have to be happy winning trophies in smaller tournaments.
The Frenchman Gasquet, a former number 7 in the world rankings, has bagged fifteen titles and reached the semis of Grand Slams. But, he feels Djokovic, Nadal and Federer’s dominance has been the most unassailable.
Why it’s tough to beat the “Big Three”
In an interview, the Frenchman told GQ: “Before in some Grand Slams, the top players missed out, like Pete Sampras at Roland Garros. Sampras did not play much on clay, Andre Agassi had some ups and downs. But, these three are enormous and when you fall into this generation, it’s brutal! It has been lasting for fifteen years! They are the best players in history, and they are there from January to November.
“Still, these three never stop, they’ve won about 30 Masters 1000 tournaments each, it’s crazy and incredible! 20 Grand Slams for Federer, Djokovic is incredible, Nadal won 11 French Opens”, said Richard.
Against these three stalwarts of the modern era, the Frenchman has all but a poor record. He has lost to the Swiss eighteen times out of twenty, thirteen times out of fourteen to the Serb, and sixteen out of sixteen to the Spaniard.
Amidst all the three, perhaps, Richard feels, he has had the toughest time with Djokovic. According to him, Novak has been one of the most challenging players to face.
“They (Federer and Nadal) give me fewer problems”, said Gasquet and later added that: “He’s a lot stronger than I am on both sides, and he hits the ball very flat”.
Richard concluded saying: “My backhand doesn’t give him trouble at all, and it’s a weapon I need and often use against other players. He also serves very well”.