Sinner Retires Gasquet, Djokovic Advances at French Open

Jannik Sinner ended Richard Gasquet’s two-decade professional career on Thursday with a straight-sets victory at the French Open, while Novak Djokovic continued his push for a record 25th Grand Slam title.

Sinner, the top seed and world No. 1, needed just under two hours to dismiss Gasquet, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4, in front of a supportive home crowd at Court Philippe Chatrier.

The 38-year-old Gasquet was playing his 22nd and final Roland Garros, having turned professional in 2002 and reached a career-high ranking of No. 7 in 2007.

“We’re different generations, but it’s your moment,” Sinner said during the on-court interview. “You played in such an incredible era of tennis and everyone will recognize you, even after retirement.”

The match included a tribute video featuring messages from Gasquet’s peers, celebrating a career that included 16 ATP titles and over PHP 826 million ($14.5 million) in career prize money.

Gasquet exits the sport with 598 career wins, third-most among Frenchmen in the Open Era behind Yannick Noah and Gaël Monfils.

Sinner, who recently returned from a doping suspension and reached the Italian Open final earlier this month, moves on to face Czech Jiri Lehecka in the third round.

Meanwhile, Djokovic overcame a stubborn challenge from Frenchman Corentin Moutet to win 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(1), extending his win streak to six matches following his 100th ATP title in Geneva last week.

“Mentally, you have to be concentrated throughout such a match,” Djokovic said. “Corentin is very quick, he is a fighter… He had set point. At that moment, anything could happen.”

Djokovic, who required a medical timeout for blisters during the match, is bidding to surpass Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam record of 24 singles titles.

Elsewhere, third seed Alexander Zverev recovered from a slow start to defeat Dutchman Jesper de Jong 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, and will next face Italian Flavio Cobolli.

The French crowd saw more heartbreak after Gasquet’s farewell, as compatriots Corentin Moutet and Pierre-Hugues Herbert were also eliminated.

However, 14th seed Arthur Fils gave home fans a lift with a dramatic 7-6(3), 7-6(4), 2-6, 0-6, 6-4 win over Spain’s Jaume Munar.

“In the fifth set, I thought about Gaël Monfils, who has flipped millions of matches,” said Fils, who fought through back pain to complete the victory.

In the women’s draw, American Coco Gauff moved into the third round with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Czech teenager Tereza Valentova.

“I could have been more aggressive on serve but the return game was good,” said Gauff, who next faces Marie Bouzkova.

Mirra Andreeva, seeded sixth and playing her first Grand Slam as a top-10 player, brushed aside Ashlyn Krueger 6-3, 6-4.

“This match wasn’t easy. I’d lost to her at the U.S. Open,” said the 18-year-old Russian. “I suffered and struggled with my serve, but I’m happy I found a way to stay calm.”

Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys also advanced, while 2021 champion Barbora Krejcikova was upset by Veronika Kudermetova in straight sets.

In men’s action, Brazilian teen Joao Fonseca continued his rise with a straight-sets win over Herbert and will next face Jack Draper, who outlasted veteran Gaël Monfils in four sets.

Czech teenager Jakub Mensik and Australian ninth seed Alex de Minaur both suffered five-set collapses after leading by two sets, as they were stunned by Henrique Rocha and Alexander Bublik, respectively.

With Gasquet’s farewell and Monfils nearing the twilight of his career, a generational shift is unfolding at Roland Garros — led by Sinner, Djokovic, and a rising wave of teenage talent.