Richard Gasquet is is a French tennis player with 16 ATP titles and renowned for his elegant one-handed backhand. But what is Gasquet’s racquet and gear?
Richard Gasquet’s tennis racquet
Richard Gasquet’s racquet is not what most people think he plays with. It is painted like the latest HEAD Extreme MP 2024 but is actually his old Head LiquidMetal Instinct Tour XL (pro stock code PT161A).
The original specs over Head LiquidMetal Instinct Tour XL:
| Head Size: | 100 sq. in. / 645 sq. cm. |
|---|---|
| Length: | 27.50 inches / 69.85 cm |
| Strung Weight: | 11.80 oz / 335 g |
| Balance: | 10pts HL |
| Swing Weight: | 336 |
| Beam Width: | 25.0mm |
|---|---|
| Tip/Shaft: | 23.0mm / 21.0mm |
| Composition: | LiquidMetal Titanium / Graphite and Piezzo Electric Fibers |
| Power Level: | Low-Medium |
| Stiffness: | 63 |
| String Pattern: | 18 Mains/19 Crosses |
|---|---|
| Main Skip: | 8T,10T,8H,10H |
| String Tension: | 52-62 |
His specs according to tennis forums are around 361g strung, 381 swingweight and a balance of 32.4 cm strung and he strings it with Luxilon Big Banger original. He’s also famous for flaring the buttcap of his racquet so he can have a comfortable grip despite gripping the racquet very low on the handle (see the picture).
Bio and Career
Richard Gabriel Cyr Gasquet was born on June 18th, 1986, in Béziers, France and he started playing tennis at age of 4.
Turning pro in 2002 at age 15, Gasquet quickly made history as the youngest player to win an ATP Tour match since 1990, defeating Franco Squillari at Monte-Carlo. A former junior world no 1, he won the 2002 Roland Garros and US Open junior titles and earned the nickname of France’s “Mozart of tennis.”
Highlights
Gasquet’s career peaked at number 7 in the world rankings in July, 2007, and he has lifted 16 ATP singles title trophies, including three at his home event in Montpellier, where he holds a record 29 wins. His Grand Slam highlights include three semifinals (Wimbledon 2007 and 2015, and the US Open 2013) being beaten by top names Federer, Djokovic, and Nadal. He also reached the Nitto ATP Finals in 2007 and 2013. On clay, he stunned No. 1 Roger Federer at 2005 Monte-Carlo, one of his 36 Top 10 victories. Beyond singles, Gasquet won the 2004 French Open mixed doubles with Tatiana Golovin, a 2012 Olympic bronze in men’s doubles with Julien Benneteau, and the 2017 Davis Cup with France.
Currently ranked at no 164, with a total career 609-406 w/l record and over $21M in prize money.
In 2025, at 38 years of age, he continues to beat top names on tour. Despite injuries and setbacks, like a 2009 doping controversy (later cleared), Gasquet announced in October 2024 he’ll retire after Roland Garros 2025, capping a long, successful career.
Other Stats
- Plays right-handed with one-handed backhand
- Height: 6’0″ or 183cm
- Weight: 174 lbs or 79kg
- Career-high rank: 7
- Current coach: Julien Cassaigne
- Other hobbies: watching rugby
- Published a book about his career, called “À revers et contre tout” (Against All Odds)
Social Media
Fans of the legendary French player can follow him via his Instagram handle @richardgasquet34 where he has around 160K followers.
