Europe 1 with AFP / Photo credit: Thomas SAMSON / AFP 00:07, May 31, 2023

Despite his elimination in the first round of Roland-Garros, Richard Gasquet has announced that he wants to return next year to Porte d'Auteuil. The Frenchman wants to participate one last time in the Paris Grand Slam. "I hope to play again next year," the now 36-year-old said.

Richard Gasquet, soon to be 37, "hopes to play one more Roland-Garros" in 2024, he said after his defeat in the first round of the Paris Grand Slam against another Frenchman, Arthur Rinderknech, on Tuesday. Gasquet (52nd) lost 6-4, 2-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) to Rinderknech (78th).

Asked if he had ever considered his release, "Honestly I haven't thought too much about it. I hope to play another Roland-Garros next year," Gasquet replied. "After that, I will necessarily have points to defend at the beginning of the year, we'll see where it takes me in the standings. If I see that I am far away, they will see where I stop afterwards. But maybe next year at Roland Garros, yes, that's a possibility. It's not impossible," continued the three-time Grand Slam semifinalist.

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"No more beautiful ending"

"For sure finishing here is the most beautiful. There is no more beautiful ending. If I had an ending to choose, it would be here. Maybe in a year, he added. Finishing at Roland Garros is beautiful anyway, it's better than finishing somewhere else." "If I go down (in the ATP rankings), for sure it will be the time to stop and finish" at Roland-Garros, he repeats. Gasquet played in 2023 his twentieth Roland-Garros. At best, he reached the quarterfinals in 2016.