Gasquet debut a success
by Bob Greene
Wednesday, August 21, 2002
http://www.usopen.org

NEW YORK -- Richard Gasquet's act plays as well off-Broadway as
it does in France.

The 16-year-old Frenchman made a successful US Open debut Tuesday,
winning his first-round qualifying match, 6-1, 6-2, over Cristiano
Caratti of Italy.

"It was the first match I've played on hard court since the Australian
Open (in January)," said Gasquet, who won the French Open junior
boys' title in May. "I've played all year on clay court. For the
first match, I am happy."

In June, Gasquet, then 15, became the youngest winner of the junior
boys' title in French Open history. Then, playing in the main draw, he
forced Spain's Albert Costa to four sets before falling.

All of that came shortly after he reached the second round at Monte
Carlo, where he upset Argentina's Franco Squillari to become the youngest
player ever to win a match at an ATP Masters Series event. His run ended
in that clay court tournament when he fell to 2000 US Open champion
Marat Safin.

Gasquet began this year by reaching the semifinals of the Australian
Open junior boys. Since then he has played only professional tournaments,
with the exception of the French Open juniors, posting a 43-8 match
record. He has won four tournaments in that stretch on the junior
and satellite circuits.

While he has cemented his reputation as a future champion on clay,
Gasquet was satisfied with his performance against the veteran Caratti
on Tuesday.

"It's not easy for the first match," Gasquet said. "But very good,
I think."