[elessar]

He gave an interview to l'Equipe yesterday, he's not gonna play at all this week and may be considering a longer break from tennis. There's nothing definitive and he says he'll see how he feels when he begins training again.

Credit to Truc for posting the article, and Julie for translating it

Totally burnt out»

Richard Gasquet, severely defeated by Seppi don’t want to hear about tennis anymore. But he hopes he will play Roland-Garros.Already beaten by Querrey (Monte Carlo) and Horna (Rome) Richard Gasquet suffered a new harsh setback against Andreas Seppi. More about the style, of an infinite sadness than about the substance. Amorphous, passive, lacking of inspiration, he allowed the Italian to shine without much efforts. (27 winners) “How long it lasted? One hour? Woouah, that’s not bad…” Richard said making fun of himself before delivering his states to mind in all sincerity.

Did you feel it was a remake of your defeat in Rome?
No. Here, at least I fought. With my means, which were poor though. But there is just one word to summarize the situation: I am totally burn out. I haven’t recovered from last year’s efforts. I felt it would happen. I pay them off now. I am totally in the red. Some players, like Nadal or Djokovic, can do it, I don’t, it’s hard for me to follow on.

When you say “burn out”, do you mean physically or mentally?
Both. I have trouble to make efforts during practices, during matches. Physically, I don’t hold on. The mental is follows the same decline. I am not able to play tennis.

Concretely, how do you feel on the court?
Running, moving, everything becomes difficult. I have no energy, the strokes don’t head off, the ball doesn’t come out of the racket. I feel I am strung out. Less in the head for that matter than in the legs. But both go together certainly.

You have no desire to be on the court?
At Rome, not really but today, I had desire. I was there. But the first set didn’t work in my favour… That being said, it’s not easy to take pleasure when you are like this.

What is the solution to your problems?
I am going to have a break from tennis during a week. It won’t hurt me to forget the racket a bit.But, there is an important tournament coming..For Roland-Garros, we will see. Don’t expect a good tournament from me. If there is one..

Do you consider not playing Roland- Garros?
I don’t consider anything. Now, I am going to leave the racket for a week. Then, I will go back to training and we will see then. It’s been almost 2 years I haven’t got some break. I miss it. I have troubles to overdo it. Imagine I do this in Roland-Garros.. it won’t be pleasant for anyone…

But could you totally skip Roland-Garros?
There is a possibility. But a tiny one.

“Taking a break”, what does it mean? Going far away from France?
I don’t know. I am going to try to take some rest, to recharge my batteries. I have to find energy back. Today, that’s what I am missing the most. Well, there is still 2 weeks left before RG. It gives me time. It’s clear I won’t come here really in very good shape. But who knows what can happen…

So, do you give up the idea of playing Casablanca?
Yes. No tournament for me next week. Anyway, at the moment, I can lose to anyone. Eric thinks the same. I don’t accept the defeat but the facts are there.

Do you think, you shouldn’t have come here?
No, I don’t think so. Because now, I really know what my problem is. And I am sure about my diagnosis. It’s easy to draw a conclusion: I have to say stop. I have no other choices. I will take the racket back only when I will want it.

Even if it’s only one day before Roland-Garros?
Nothing is ruled out.

IMO not playing RG is a pretty good idea ATM, especially considering he's barely got any points to defend until wimbledon It's pointless to keep playing when he feels that nothing is working and that every thing's against him.

[P. Antonius]

Richou again shits his pants comes RG...

[Action Jackson]

No point in him playing, if he is going to be a ghost on court.

[elessar]

Originally Posted by P. Antonius

Richou again shits his pants comes RG...

Given his clay season so far I don't think he needs to shit his pants to go out first or second round again

[zcess81]

That guy needs help ASAP or he may end up like Coria. Maybe a new coach?...someone like Gilbert maybe.

[richie21]

Originally Posted by elessar

«Courir, bouger, tout devient difficile. Je n'ai aucun jus. Je me sens au bout du rouleau. Je n'ai pas récupéré des efforts de l'an dernier. Je sentais que ça allait arriver. Je le paie en ce moment. [...] Ce n'est pas facile de prendre du plaisir quand on est comme ça.»

What a pathetic excuse,especially considering he has not played a lot of matches this season as he has been often eliminated early in all the tournaments he has played so far.

[bluefork]

It might be a good decision in the long run. He obviously needs to make a big change to get him out of this rut he's in. Go home, rest, rediscover your passion for tennis, and come back a better player, hopefully.

[HNCS]

maybe taking some time off will help him regroup and come back better. different people, different ways.

[P. Antonius]

Originally Posted by elessar

Given his clay season so far I don't think he needs to shit his pants to go out first or second round again

He'd still get booed by the crowd for lack of trying... and he doesn't want that embarrassment

[*Ljubica*]

Thanks for posting that. I am no fan of Gasquet, but I felt sorry for him in that match last night, and in his match in Rome last week. He looked so lost - and obviously has a lot of issues to deal with, - whether on or off the court I don't know - quite possibly both If he feels the need to take a break to re-evaluate his future, then that is probably the best thing for him - he is still young, and he has talent - so he can back come back stronger.

I agree with zcess81 about the coach thing too - he needs a change in his attitude to tennis and a fresh outlook on things, but I don't think Gilbert would be right for him. Barry Cowan said the same thing on TV last night, - but I think Gilbert is far too "strong" a character for Gasquet, who seems quite introverted, and could be completely "crushed" by someone as loud and pushy as Gilbert.

[dylan24]

he should retire like henin

[elessar]

Originally Posted by richie21

What a pathetic excuse,especially considering he has not played a lot of matches this season as he has been often eliminated early in all the tournaments he has played so far.

Yeah I was pretty surprised by that too. It doesn't make a lot of sense that six months afterwards he'd still be tired

[Byrd]

Gasquet needs to change to 2 handed backhand to get back on track.

[zcess81]

Originally Posted by The Cat Lady

Thanks for posting that. I am no fan of Gasquet, but I felt sorry for him in that match last night, and in his match in Rome last week. He looked so lost - and obviously has a lot of issues to deal with, - whether on or off the court I don't know - quite possibly both If he feels the need to take a break to re-evaluate his future, then that is probably the best thing for him - he is still young, and he has talent - so he can back come back stronger.

I agree with zcess81 about the coach thing too - he needs a change in his attitude to tennis and a fresh outlook on things, but I don't think Gilbert would be right for him. Barry Cowan said the same thing on TV last night, - but I think Gilbert is far too "strong" a character for Gasquet, who seems quite introverted, and could be completely "crushed" by someone as loud and pushy as Gilbert.

That's exactly what he needs imo. He needs to get out of comfort zone. He needs a strong character to push him, and obviously current arrangement isn't working. Gasquet looks mentally fragile and he needs a ruthless character like Gilbert to help him mentally imo.

[*julie*]

There is the whole interview on his forum... It's only a tiny possibility that he wouldn't play.