Richard Gasquet will happily forgo French World Cup football to concentrate on an exhibition match with Holger Rune on Tuesday in Caen.
The 36-year-old will take on the rising Dane who won the Paris Bercy Masters last month at the same time France is facing a Doha semi-final on the pitch against Cinderella side Morocco.
But it will be business as usual on court in Normandy for No. 68 Gasquet.
“I prefer to win Rune and not see France-Morocco,” he told Tennis Actu.
“There is no better preparation for the Australian Open than to play this match – it’s important for me to play well.
“It’s in France, there are a lot of fans, it’s well organised, that’s why I enjoy coming here.”
Gasquet added: “(Rune) is the favourite, but there is nothing to lose. I’ll try to play well to win. It will be good to measure myself against him.”
