French tennis professional Richard Gasquet has expressed his disbelief at Novak Djokovic’s remarkable performance on the tennis court at the age of 36. Currently holding the top position in the world rankings, Djokovic’s longevity and success continue to defy expectations.
Gasquet, a seasoned tennis competitor since 2002, once reached the pinnacle of World No. 7 but now finds himself in the 131st position in the ATP rankings. Despite his extensive career, the Frenchman has been unable to secure a title since claiming victory at the ASB Classic men’s singles in January 2023.
In a recent interview with the French national daily L’Equipe, Gasquet candidly admitted that he anticipates a further decline in his own form. Reflecting on Djokovic’s exceptional achievements, he remarked, “It’s bound to get worse. Apart from Novak Djokovic, who is winning Grand Slams at almost 37 years old.”
Gasquet went on to emphasize the rarity of such longevity in sports, drawing parallels with iconic figures like Michael Jordan. Comparing Djokovic’s enduring dominance to other athletes, he noted, “Have we ever seen that in sports, except maybe [Michael] Jordan? [Lionel] Messi plays in Miami, the others in Saudi Arabia. He [Novak] is No. 1 in the world… I can’t explain to myself that a guy like that is so strong at that age. At 37-38 years old, normally, you’re much worse than at 25. You know that. At no point did I say to myself that I would play the year I turned 38. Unimaginable,” Gasquet added.
In their head-to-head matchups, Djokovic has dominated Gasquet, winning 13 out of 14 encounters. The rivalry began in 2006 at the Madrid Open, where Djokovic secured a victory with a scoreline of 7-6(2), 1-6, 6-1. Despite Gasquet clinching a win in a round-robin encounter at the 2007 ATP Finals, Djokovic has remained unbeaten in subsequent matches. Their most recent encounter took place at the 2018 US Open, where Djokovic triumphed with a convincing score of 6-2, 6-3, 6-3 en route to securing the title at Flushing Meadows.