Richard Gasquet, the 38-year-old French tennis veteran, is making a nostalgic return to Wimbledon qualifying 20 years after his debut in 2004. Gasquet, a two-time Wimbledon semifinalist and former world No. 7, defeated Olivier Crawford in his first qualifying match since the 2004 US Open.
Gasquet's victory marks his quest for an 18th Grand Slam main draw appearance. He fired 14 aces and saved three set points in the second-set tiebreaker to advance after one hour and 43 minutes. Gasquet will face Alexis Galarneau of Canada in the next round.
Other veterans seeking to relive their Wimbledon glory include David Goffin, a twice quarterfinalist, who cruised to a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Marc Polmans. Goffin recently won the Ilkley Challenger crown, a performance that would have traditionally earned him a wild card into the main draw.
The top four men's seeds also progressed safely. Top seed Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard defeated Ugo Blanchet, 6-2, 7-5, while second seed Hugo Gaston beat Shintaro Mochizuki, 7-6 (5), 6-4. Third seed Zizou Bergs dismissed Omar Jasika, 6-2, 7-5, and fourth seed James Duckworth rallied past Benjamin Hassan, 6-7 (8), 6-2, 6-4.
Gasquet's return to Wimbledon qualifying is a testament to his enduring passion for the sport. Despite his age, he remains a formidable opponent with a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the game. The upcoming matches will be a true test of his resilience and determination as he aims to secure a place in the main draw and relive the magic of Wimbledon past.
Tags: #RichardGasquet, #WimbledonQualifying, #TennisVeterans, #DavidGoffin, #GrandSlamMainDraw
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