Richard Gasquet enjoyed a stellar tennis career, which recently came to an end at the 2025 French Open.
The Frenchman never failed to entertain when competing on the ATP Tour, often producing some of his best tennis when it mattered most.
Gasquet reached three Grand Slam semi-finals during his career, at Wimbledon in 2007 and 2015, and at the US Open in 2013.
Following his defeat to Jannik Sinner in the second round of the 2025 French Open, Gasquet retired from tennis, bringing to a close his 23-year stint as a professional.
The sport changed a lot over the two decades Gasquet competed, as he gives his verdict on whether it is easier to win a Grand Slam now than it was during his prime years.
Richard Gasquet thinks 2006 Rafael Nadal would win the 2025 French Open
Appearing as a guest on the Nothing Major podcast, former world number seven Gasquet shared his thoughts on how 2006 Rafael Nadal would’ve performed at this year’s French Open.
“I have to say Rafa [Nadal] is playing now the French Open, with his level in 2006, I think he would win today, and that was 20 years ago,” he said.
The 38-year-old explained just how good the ‘big four’ were and how it prevented anyone else from winning Major titles.
“For sure what I would say is, before, to win a Grand Slam was very, very difficult, with the big four it was crazy,” said Gasquet.
“You had to beat [Andy] Murray, then you had to beat [Novak] Djokovic. I was in the semis, I remember my first time in the semis. I was in the locker room with my coach, sitting across from me were Djokovic, [Roger] Federer, and Nadal. I told my coach f—, it’s not easy to win.
“Before, to be a top five, it was impossible, with these guys it was impossible. I think the top four were unbeatable for me.”
Gasquet reached his first Grand Slam semi-final at Wimbledon in 2007 and was joined in the last four by three of the sport’s greatest-ever players.
2007 Wimbledon semi-finals
- Richard Gasquet v Roger Federer
- Rafael Nadal v Novak Djokovic
The Frenchman came up short against number one seed Roger Federer, before Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic in the second semi-final.
Gasquet went on to say whether he thinks it is easier to win a Grand Slam in 2025 than it was during the era of the ‘big three’.
“Now you have more chances. There is [Jannik] Sinner and [Carlos] Alcaraz, they are still young, 21, 22 years old, so they can be very big in the future,” he said.
“But for the moment, now I would say [Jakub] Mensik won, Casper Ruud, [Jack] Draper won in Indian Wells.
“It’s open now to win a Grand Slam, it’s more open than before.”
Gasquet did, however, note that the overall quality of the top 100 has improved.
“Now the top 100 is better, the guy who is 100, 200 is better physically, he’s stronger,” he said.
Rafael Nadal’s perfect 2006 clay season
Having won his maiden French Open title one year earlier, Nadal returned to his favored surface in 2006 searching for more gold.
His first stop was the Monte-Carlo Masters, where he secured the win, beating his rival Federer in the final.
- 2006 Monte-Carlo Masters F – Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer
- 2006 Monte-Carlo Masters SF – Rafael Nadal beat Gaston Gaudio
- 2006 Monte-Carlo Masters QF – Rafael Nadal beat Guillermo Coria
- 2006 Monte-Carlo Masters 3R – Rafael Nadal beat Kristof Vliegen
- 2006 Monte-Carlo Masters 2R- Rafael Nadal beat Jean-Rene Lisnard
- 2006 Monte-Carlo Masters 1R- Rafael Nadal beat Arnaud Clement
Nadal then traveled to his home tournament, the Barcelona Open, where he took down four of his countrymen en route to the title.
- 2006 Barcelona Open F – Rafael Nadal beat Tommy Robredo
- 2006 Barcelona Open SF – Rafael Nadal beat Nicolas Almagro
- 2006 Barcelona Open QF – Rafael Nadal beat Jarkko Nieminen
- 2006 Barcelona Open 3R – Rafael Nadal beat Ivan Navarro
- 2006 Barcelona Open 2R – Rafael Nadal beat Feliciano Lopez
Having already picked up two titles on clay, Nadal headed to Rome full of confidence.
Again, he met Federer in the final, as the pair battled it out in one of the greatest matches of their legendary rivalry.
- 2006 Italian Open F – Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer
- 2006 Italian Open SF – Rafael Nadal beat Gael Monfils
- 2006 Italian Open QF – Rafael Nadal beat Fernando Gonzalez
- 2006 Italian Open 3R – Rafael Nadal beat Tim Henman
- 2006 Italian Open 2R – Rafael Nadal beat Filippo Volandri
- 2006 Italian Open 1R – Rafael Nadal beat Carlos Moya
Unbeaten on clay heading into the French Open, Nadal looked unstoppable, and proved to be just that as he defended his title with yet another win over Federer.
- 2006 French Open F – Rafael Nadal beat Roger Federer
- 2006 French Open SF – Rafael Nadal beat Ivan Ljubicic
- 2006 French Open QF – Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic
- 2006 French Open 4R – Rafael Nadal beat Lleyton Hewitt
- 2006 French Open 3R- Rafael Nadal beat Paul-Henri Mathieu
- 2006 French Open 2R – Rafael Nadal beat Kevin Kim
- 2006 French Open 1R – Rafael Nadal beat Robin Soderling
Nadal won all 24 matches he played on clay in 2006, picking up four titles along the way.
With that in mind, perhaps Gasquet was right to suggest that 2006 Nadal would win this year’s French Open.
The 2025 French Open men’s singles final is set to take place on Sunday, June 8.
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