Injured Gasquet out of Davis Cup final
Richard Gasquet has withdrawn from the Davis Cup final against Croatia later this month because of injury.
Gasquet, the No. 1 French player, wrote on Twitter on Monday about his withdrawal but did not specify his injury. According to L’Equipe newspaper, Gasquet, ranked No. 26, is hampered by a groin problem.
Gasquet said he is “extremely disappointed” not to be able to play for France, who are bidding to win back-to-back titles in the team competition. Tweeting in French, Gasquet wrote: “I am extremely disappointed to have to announce my withdrawal from the final. I’m sure my teammates will get a new victory.”
The final will be held at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille on November 23-25 under a retractable roof. ■ studying at the University of Illinois in 2005. Two years later he was playing on the men’s tour, winning some and losing in quite a few. And it has been only in recent years that he has shown signs of living up to his full potential as a top-class player.
“I try as much as possible to hold myself as a role model whenever I am back in South Africa,” he said. “I just go and do as much as I can by visiting schools, and this is not just for tennis but just to get kids to believe in themselves and start that spark in the younger generation.
“Growing up I had my fair bit of heroes and I was fortunate in that respect. I take a lot of pride in being the highest ranked [in Africa] and being so much in the public eye and this position that I have to inspire a new generation.”
Last year he announced his arrival while reaching the final at the US Open before going down in straight sets to Rafael Nadal in the final. This year, he eased into his second Grand Slam final where he lost to current world No. 1 Novak Djokovic. In February, Anderson won the 250 Series New York Open and followed up with a second title in October at the 500 Series Vienna Open in Austria helping him end sixth in the list of top-eight players for the season-ender.
“Winning two tournaments in one year was a huge achievement for me,” he said. “The Masters series final is also big. I think I have set myself up this year for the next season, and in the right direction.”
...my hope through the position that I find myself in is to bring about tennis awareness through all parts of Africa” Kevin Anderson » South African tennis star