Gasquet struggling to find form after suspension ordeal
Although his suspension ordeal after a positive test for cocaine is now just an unpleasant memory, Richard Gasquet is still struggling to recapture his old form.
|Last Updated: Apr 13, 2010, 10:26 AM IST|Source: Bureau
Monte Carlo: Although his suspension ordeal after a positive test for cocaine is now just an unpleasant memory, Richard Gasquet is still struggling to recapture his old form.
Gasquet, who burst into the limelight in 2005 when he beat Roger Federer in the Monte Carlo Masters quarter-finals, laboured to a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 first round win over Spanish qualifier Daniel Gimeno-Traver in the principality.
"Things got mixed up in my head all of a sudden," the 23-year-old Frenchman told reporters.
Last May, Gasquet was suspended after testing positive for cocaine at the Sony Ericsson Open in Florida.
However the Court of Arbitration for Sport ruled in December that he had been inadvertently contaminated by kissing a woman in a nightclub.Gasquet, a former world number seven, said he did not have too many complaints. "Of course it was very hard, but hey, I`m a tennis player, I don`t have to go to the factory every morning," he said.
Gasquet, who has dropped to 79th in the ATP rankings, said he was now looking to break into the top 20.
"I`m targeting top 30, top 20. Top 10 is too soon to tell, it`s another level," he said. "Things could have been worse. I could have a three-digit ranking."
Gasquet will next face Czech Tomas Berdych, who eased into the second round by beating Spain`s Feliciano Lopez 6-3, 6-1.Berdych, seeded 10th, built on the form that allowed him to reach the Miami Masters final earlier this month to advance.
Argentine David Nalbandian, who underwent hip surgery last year, was quick to make his mark on the Monte Carlo clay with a 6-3, 6-1 demolition of Germany`s Andreas Beck.
Bureau Report
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
Cookies Setting
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device and the processing of information obtained via those cookies (including about your preferences, device and online activity) by us and our commercial partners to enhance site navigation, personalise ads, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. More information can be found in our Cookies and Privacy Policy. You can amend your cookie settings to reject non-essential cookies by clicking Cookie Settings below.
Manage Consent Preferences
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. They are usually only set in response to actions made by you which amount to a request for services, such as setting your privacy preferences, logging in or filling in forms. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work or you may not be able to login.
Functional Cookies
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
Targeting Cookies
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used by those companies to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts on other sites. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advert as well as help measure the effectiveness of an advertising campaign. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
Performance Cookies
These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies we may not know when you have visited our site, and may not be able to monitor its performance.