[laurie-1]

Originally Posted by Elbarto

I think the max ranking for Gasquet is top 15,

he is very talented, good tennis but nowadays the most important weapons for a player are the physical and the fighting spirit, you don't need to produce a high sophisticated/technical tennis, a basic style tennis ( good serve and solid defense on the baseline )+ good physical and mental/warrior style are enough to be in the top 10,

Gasquet doesn't have a solid physical, he is often injured, he seems to choke during key points and he has difficulties to win against top 5 players ( the psychological barrier is too high for him ),

that's why I think Gasquet can not be in the top 10, he can win one or two big tournaments ( ATP500, maybe a masters 1000 if he is lucky with the draw ) but win a grand slam seem to me an utopian view,

he is a good top 20 player and I think Gasquet will be happy to stay top 20

It's always been the case, you can't win by just having a superior talent no matter what era. In the late 1970s Brazil manager Claudio Coutinho made a famous quote about then 22 year old French midfielder Michel Platini (now UEFA President). Coutinho said about Platini "skill without effort is a total waste of time".

Platini went on to realise his potential, especially after captaining France to the 1982 World Cup semifinal and joining Juventus, where he scored lots of goals and won many honours both on and off the pitch. But Platini said that only when he joined winners at Juventus then he realised how hard you need to work to win. So when you get a player of Platini's skill realising his potential, then you get history in the making.

Gasquet has gone the way of too many French players of the last 30 years (LeConte, Pioline, Tsonga, Mathieu etc etc). These guys have incredibe talent and yet can't make a name for themselves, they just don't seem to have the will to win. Luckily for France, Amelie Mauresmo bucked the trend as she was going the same way until she won those two slams plus the year end championships between 2005 and 2006.

[sheva07]

How can people here doubt his talent? He is one of the best ever youth players. Of course you can have questions about his tactics or his mental condition.

[KaiserT]

Top 10 with bad fitness, a bad fh, non-existent mental strength, and all from a mile behind the baseline.... yeah right

[Certinfy]

No.

[Roger the Dodger]

Yes he can.

[philosophicalarf]

For clay the forehand will break down in longer rallies.

For faster courts, he's limited to lower bounce because otherwise he's easily pushed deep on the backhand (it leaps up high, he retreats). It's one reason why his record is dreadful on Decoturf.

Could still have fun on grass, or Miami, or the lower bouncing indoor courts.

[Bad Religion]

Almagro is not top 10 currently and he is way better than Gasquet
Answer : Big NO

[ImmzB]

He can defiantly reach top 20 and I expcect him to do this.

Top 10 will be tough but possible.

[Bobble]

Maybe if Peter Lundgren isn't busy after Stan.

[Blackbriar]

Top 20 is clearly attainable now. He just needs to win a match in every MS and reach 3rd round at RG, and Wimbly to be top 15-20, but yes going to top 10 is another question. You need a really big result in a MS or a QF in grand slam to do that.

[Sapeod]

If Alamgro hasn't gotten into the top 10 yet, then Gasquet has no chance. Gasquet is shit compared to Melzer, Almagro & Youzhny who are around the #10 position. Getting infont of them is pretty much impossible for him.

[vn01]

No

[DrJules]

Originally Posted by laurie-1

It's always been the case, you can't win by just having a superior talent no matter what era. In the late 1970s Brazil manager Claudio Coutinho made a famous quote about then 22 year old French midfielder Michel Platini (now UEFA President). Coutinho said about Platini "skill without effort is a total waste of time".

Platini went on to realise his potential, especially after captaining France to the 1982 World Cup semifinal and joining Juventus, where he scored lots of goals and won many honours both on and off the pitch. But Platini said that only when he joined winners at Juventus then he realised how hard you need to work to win. So when you get a player of Platini's skill realising his potential, then you get history in the making.

Gasquet has gone the way of too many French players of the last 30 years (LeConte, Pioline, Tsonga, Mathieu etc etc). These guys have incredibe talent and yet can't make a name for themselves, they just don't seem to have the will to win. Luckily for France, Amelie Mauresmo bucked the trend as she was going the same way until she won those two slams plus the year end championships between 2005 and 2006.

Agree fully.

Going top 20 which is very realistic, but top 10 is feasible.

[Roger the Dodger]

Originally Posted by Blackbriar

Top 20 is clearly attainable now. He just needs to win a match in every MS and reach 3rd round at RG, and Wimbly to be top 15-20, but yes going to top 10 is another question. You need a really big result in a MS or a QF in grand slam to do that.

He's reaching the QFs of Indian Wells. So this top twenty discussion will soon be redundant.

[Horatio Caine]

Can he? Yes, he has the natural talent. However, he has been unable to maximise this talent over the last few years, and unless he changes his approach (new coaching team, and willingness to step into the court) he will be no better than a regular top 40 player imo.

The rankings do not lie. He may be at a respectable #21, but he is miles off a top 10 position (1,000pts+) and will not be able to make up that ground without several decent results in the Masters and Slams. He will not be able to achieve those by standing 8 feet behind the baseline.