Richard Gasquet misses the pass of five in Manama (Bahrain).
Opposed this Saturday to the Russian Mikhail Kukushkin, another veteran of the circuit (39th in the world in 2019, now 231st), the Frenchman was no match in the final of this Challenger 125.
The Biterrois lost in two sets (7-6 [5], 6-4) despite a good start and a tight first round.
This coronation could have allowed him to stay in contact with the top 100 of the ATP ranking, which he left for the first time last January after 6,845 days of longevity (i.e. since April 2005).
Instead of falling to 107th place in the world, he only climbed six ranks (124th).
TITLE NO.1⃣5⃣
36-year-old Mikhail Kukushkin claims an astonishing fifteenth #ATPChallenger title, downing No.5 seed Gasquet 7-6(5), 4-6 in the Manama final pic.twitter.com/zjFMnLJGtO
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) February 17, 2024
For what should be his last season, Richard Gasquet now has an appointment with the ATP 250 tournament in Doha.
Big challenge ahead for the one who obtained a wild card.
He will face Alexander Shevchenko (57th) in the first round.
Also read: Richard Gasquet looks back on 21 years of the pro circuit: “At the US Open, there was a beer tap!
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Gasquet has often repeated that he would put away his rackets the day his ranking no longer allowed him to enter directly into the Grand Slam tables.
In the meantime, despite a slightly tired body, the former French number 1 is clearly still enjoying himself.
We could see him dashing at the Australian Open against the Spanish nugget Carlos Alcaraz.