Richard Gasquet, the French tennis veteran, has been awarded the first of four wildcards for the 2025 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, set for April 5-13, Tournament Director David Massey announced on Friday, March 21. The event marks a sentimental return for Gasquet, who will retire after this season, to the clay courts where his storied career took flight.
Gasquet first burst onto the scene in Monte-Carlo in April 2002 at age 15, stunning the tennis world with a debut ATP win over No. 53 Franco Squillari as a wildcard qualifier. Three years later, in 2005, the then-18-year-old No. 101 shocked top-ranked Roger Federer in the quarterfinals (6-7, 6-2, 7-6), saving three match points in a thrilling tiebreak. Only Rafael Nadal, that year’s champion, stopped his run in the semifinals.
A former world No. 7, three-time Grand Slam semifinalist, and 16-time ATP titleholder, Gasquet’s graceful play and iconic backhand have captivated fans across his 1,000-plus-match career. The Monte-Carlo Masters, where his legend began, now offers him a final bow on its hallowed clay, celebrating a legacy of skill and flair.
The 118th Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, an ATP Masters 1000 staple, kicks off the European clay season at the Monte-Carlo Country Club. Chaired by Melanie-Antoinette de Massy, this year’s lineup features 42 of the top 45 players, including nine of the ATP Top 10. The tournament draw is slated for April 4 at 17:00 at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort, with defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, a three-time winner, in attendance.
