Sparring Gasquet pronounces Nadal ready to go

Richard Gasquet has pronounced longtime rival Rafael Nadal ready for action after sparring sessions at the Spaniard’s training outpost in Kuwait.

Frenchman Gasquet has spent his entire tennis life in contact with Nadal, with both born in the same month of June, 1986.

But Nadal holds undisputed superiority in their rivallry, winning all 18 of their ATP matches but losing to Gasquet in their first meeting in a French Challenger two decades ago.

“Rafa told me that it took a while for him to come back, but I felt like he was no longer in pain,” Gasquet L’Equipe.

“He will be competitive and win matches; there is no doubt about it! He’s been doing three-hour (training) sessions.

 “That’s what you have to do, play as much as possible.” 

Nadal is due for his first competitive test in nearly a year after an injury-filled 2023; the 37-year-old will make his start at the Brisbane event which starts on New Year’s Eve.

Main photo:- Richard Gasquet won the 2023 Auckland title