Richard Gasquet celebrates new found freedom by hitting the golf course

Richard Gasquet is all smile now that he's cleared to return to tour again.

How did he persuade the independent tribunal in London and escape a lengthy doping ban?

AP has the story:

After deciding to withdraw from the tournament he went to a nightclub in Miami with friends to see a French DJ perform at a dance music festival, which the tribunal noted was “notoriously associated with use of illegal recreational drugs including cocaine.”

Gasquet told the tribunal hearing held in London last month that he kissed a woman, identified in the ruling only as “Pamela.”

The tribunal said it was likely she had consumed cocaine during the night, though it had no direct evidence.

Gasquet was “on the balance of probability, contaminated with cocaine by Pamela” and, therefore, not significantly at fault for the doping offense, the ruling said.

“We take into account that the amount of cocaine in the player’s body was so small that if he had been tested only a few hours later, his test result would be likely to have been negative,” the tribunal stated.

Gasquet also argued at the hearing that his positive test was given after he had pulled out of the Key Biscayne tournament. Cocaine is a banned drug for athletes in competition.

The tribunal said Gasquet’s rights to practice his profession would be infringed by a one-year suspension, though it was required to find that a doping offense was committed.

It also noted that Gasquet would be banned for life if he tested positive for a banned drug a second time.

The ruling allowed the Frenchman to keep the ranking points and prize money he gained at tournaments in April.


(Via AP; Images via sports.sina.com.cn)

Rafael Nadal, Richard Gasquet to return to tour

Double good news! Buddies Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet are set to get back on tour soon.

Nadal’s publicist, Benito Perez-Barbadillo, said on Tuesday that the six-time Grand Slam title winner was in Barcelona for tests on his sore knees.

Perez-Barbadillo said Nadal will return to practice next Monday and will play in the hard-court tournament at Montreal that begins August 10.

And moment ago, Gasquet has been cleared by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) to return to the tour after tested positive for cocaine.

The ITF said Gasquet's 'inadvertent contamination' in a nightclub the night before his scheduled match meant a 12-month suspension would be disproportionate and instead handed him a ban of 2 months and 15 days which expired today.

Statement from Richard Gasquet said, "It has been terrible. It was an unbelivable suffering not to go to Roland Garros and Wimbledon. I maintain that I have never taken cocaine.

"I am happy that I can return to the courts. It's a huge joy to play tennis again. What will I retain? That I can play tennis. Justice has been done.

"I thank those close to me, who have been with me. There were one or two people who said things against me. To them, I say: look at the sanction... I'm eager to play again. I'm eager to get back in the top 10."

(Via AP, Reuters)

Why did Richard Gasquet wait for the Pope?

First of all, it's not what you think.

It's not like Richard Gasquet meeting Pope Benedict XVI to ask for blessing or forgiveness.

Gasquet was recently spotted waiting for the arrival of the Pope prior to the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican.

He was there to attend a charity football event organised by Variétés Club France.

Richard Gasquet recently caught up in an alleged cocaine bust.

He could face a two-year ban from professional tennis if found guilty.

Gasquet however claimed he was innocence.

(Images by Eric Bretagnon/Flash Press)

Rafael Nadal believes Richard Gasquet is innocent

Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet in an exhibition match in Malaysia back in 2007

Rafael Nadal expresses support for Richard Gasquet, who is facing a possible two-year ban after testing positive for cocaine.

"He's not taking cocaine. I know him. He's a good friend of mine, and I discussed this with him last week," Nadal said.

"You know what the world is like today. When you go to a party, anything can happen these days."

" If you kiss a girl who's taken cocaine, anything can happen, and that's the truth."

"That's reality, and this can destroy your career, and this is most unfair."

Updated: Richard Gasquet caught up in an alleged cocaine bust

Richard Gasquet could face a possible career blow after a French sports daily L'Equipe reported that the France's gifted "baby Federer" has tested positive for cocaine.

The newspaper's website reported on Saturday that "traces of the banned drug were found in the Gasquet's urine sample at the Sony Ericsson Open in Key Biscayne, Florida, after he pulled out of that tournament in March".

In happier times - Gasquet with the Miami Dolphin cheerleaders during a
promotional event at the Miami Open

Gasquet cited a right shoulder injury when he withdrew from the Miami Open before his second round match against Albert Montanes.

Gasquet could face a two-year ban if the "B'' sample shows positive result.

Neither Gasquet nor his management team could be reached to explain on the allegations.

Gasquet who has been struggling with his form since Wimbledon 2007 is currently ranked no.23 in the ATP rankings.

Many of us knew that he can party really hard but when it comes to recreational drugs like crack cocaine, seriously we don't want to believe that he's involved, aren't we?

In happier times - Gasquet and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga celebrating their Davis Cup victory by getting down with some go-go girls.

Updates: International Tennis Federation (ITF) spokesman Neil Robinson confirmed that Gasquet has been suspended and his case is pending for hearing.

ITF also said that an anti-doping tribunal should be assembled within 60 days to hear the case.

Gasquet said on Sunday that he was gathering evidence to prove his innocence.

(Via nbcsports.com, AP; Images via menstennisforums.com)

Ex-BFF is back in the spotlight, Camilla Belle doesn't want to miss out too

Maria Sharapova's ex-BFF Camilla Belle was spotted at the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells.

She was watching the third round match between Fernando Verdasco and Richard Gasquet.

Don't tell me Nando's mohawk and single status got her interested all over again!

Check out their 'history' here. Here's a couple of pictures to refresh your mind.

Back to Nando, here's a clearer shot of his new hairstyle.

I always have a thing for mohawks, so I definitely dig this look. I don't understand why most of you guys don't :P

(First & second images by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
(Other images via siberiasiren.com; menstennisforums.com)

Let's celebrate brotherhood!

Either you hate it or embrace it.

If you don't get it, let's just say that these are just funny photos ;-)

Andy Murray in pink.

Richard Gasquet, Gael Monfils and Gilles Simon.

Marin Cilic and Mario Ancic.

Dmitry Tursunov and Grigor Dimitrov.

Marc Gicquel riding on Gilles Simon.

(All images via menstennisforums.com)

Richard Gasquet upsets Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Brisbane

Richard Gasquet made a stunning comeback against French countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to book his place in the Brisbane International semifinals.

Gasquet who was dominated in the first set by Tsonga, responded brilliantly to win 1-6, 6-4, 6-2.

Despite his lost, Tsonga had a decent run here and will definitely set the wheel in motion for the Australian Open when he heads to Sydney Open next week.

Back to Gasquet, he will face Radek Stepanek in the semifinals after he triumph over Robin Soderling 2-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Another semifinal match will be between third-seeded Fernando Verdasco and Paul-Henri Mathieu.

By the way don't you think Nando's latest photo in Brisbane rather empty here?

It's because Ana Ivanovic will not be in Brisbane to cheer for him as she has already touched down Melbourne to practice for the first Grand Slam tournament of the year.


(Images via zimbio, tennisforum.com)

Kei Nishikori punished by Richard Gasquet in front of his entire nation

Kei Nishikori couldn't expect anything more worse than being punished in front of his home crowd.

In just 55 minutes, Richard Gasquet, the world no. 13 crushed Nishikori 6-1, 6-2.

"He played really well and there wasn't much I could do," Nishikori told the near-capacity crowd of 9,123 at Tokyo's Ariake Colosseum.

"I knew he was strong. I respected him too much."

The unseeded Nishikori was hard-pressed to live up to the exorbitant expectations placed on him in the wake of a breakout year that included becoming the first Japanese to win an ATP event in 16 years.

Already Japan's top male player in over a decade, the 18-year-old never displayed the poise or confidence that carried him to victories in the first two rounds, his first-ever wins in an ATP tournament on home soil.

Gasquet, 22, took advantage of a shaky Nishikori. On one serve, Nishikori did the unimaginable by dropping his racquet (click on picture to see larger version).

"It's hard to play at home, he's only 18 years old," said a sympathetic Gasquet, like Nishikori a former junior star.

"I'm sure he was a little bit nervous. I have three years more experience than him."

Gasquet said he sees a bright future for Nishikori, who will likely land in the upper 70s when the rankings are released next week, exceeding his career-best of 81.

"It's his first year on the tour, so it's tough," Gasquet said.

"He won a tournament and made the fourth round of the U.S. Open. If he is not injured, he will be in the top 10. He has a good forehand, a good backhand. There is no reason for him not to go into the top 10."

In the quarterfinals, Gasquet, the losing finalist here last year to Spain's David Ferrer, will face 2003 champion Rainer Schuettler, the 12th-seeded German who squeezed past No. 8 seed Mikhail Youzhny of Russia 6-3, 6-7 (12-14), 6-4.

(Via AP, Images via sanspo.com, Yahoo! Sport)

Don't you think Fernando Verdasco and Ana Ivanovic are a perfect match?

So what do you get when you put two beautiful and famous tennis players like Fernando Verdasco and Ana Ivanovic together?

Do they create spark and chemistry?

Anyone looking at this picture might thought some flirting is going on *evil grin*. They could be the hottest item!

Updates: Check out more pictures here!

And it seems that David Ferrer and Richard Gasquet aren't comfortable seeing someone flirting there :P

So, Ferrer find someone else to kiss with. And that's Svetlana Kuznetsova.


So much drama going on here? Haha.

Well, guys, Verdasco is already attached to a hot Spanish model Priscila de Gustin.

And Ferrer's kiss isn't a romantic one either.


Apparently the players along with others like Jelena Jankovic, Andy Roddick and Sam Querrey were only catching up with each other while attending the official reception of the 2008 China Open at Shangri-La Hotel yesterday.


(Images via Yahoo! Sport, sina.com)

Frenchman Richard Gasquet pulls out from Beijing tennis

Nicolas Mahut and Richard Gasquet (with a cap) during the doubles match
at The Queen's Club tennis tournament.

First it was Andy Roddick. And now Richard Gasquet is pulling out from the Beijing Olympic 2008 as well.

Gasquet who is a Frenchman perhaps could be a Pro-Tibet? Or perhaps I should say that the French people are not welcomed in China?

"In agreement with his coach Guillaume Peyre, Richard Gasquet announces that he will not take part in the Olympic Games," Team Lagardere said in a statement."

Roddick on the other hand chose to skip this year's controversial Olympic event by concentrating on preparing for the U.S Open by playing at the hard court Legg Mason Tennis Classic.

Personally, I don't care if Gasquet or Roddick taking part in the Olympics or not. It doesn't make any difference.

(Image by IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)

What do tennis players do off court?

World number two Rafael Nadal is only 21, at the top of his career, but he is already thinking of his future beyond tennis and is convinced his privileged position gives him the chance to help others.

"This can be the beginning of my future, when I retire and have more time," the Spaniard said Wednesday as he launched the Rafa Nadal Foundation in his native town, Manacor, on the island of Mallorca.

The foundation will seek to promote "sport as an integration tool for those groups in most need," focusing particularly on childhood and youth.

Ana Maria Parera, Nadal's mother, will chair the foundation, and his father Sebastian will be vice-chairman. Nadal's uncle and coach Toni Nadal and his agent, former tennis player Carlos Costa, will also be involved.

Nadal is not the first sportsman to set up a foundation. One of the most famous in tennis is that set up by Swiss world number one Roger Federer, which focuses on Africa - the continent that Federer's mother hails from.

"I have talked a lot about this with Roger, and he tells me that when you are there it is something that fills you with satisfaction. And I think the time has come, it is a beautiful time for my life and for my career," Nadal said.

And speaking about Roger Federer, if is is not playing on court, he'll be busy collecting awards. And he just received his fourth consecutive Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award.

While Nadal launched his foundation and Federer collecting awards and spending time with girlfriend Mirka, players like Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfred Tsonga were celebrating their Davis Cup victory by getting down with some go-go girls. The Frenchmen certainly know how to have fun!

Australian Open 2008: Looking at tennis in a different angle

This is the second part of my 'Tennis is NOT boring' post.

No wonder Andy Roddick lost to Philipp Kohlschreiber in the third round at the Australian Open. He is too busy to see the ball coming.

"Roddick, your habit is inappropriate on court!" Philipp Kohlschreiber is trying to teach Roddick a lesson. And he did.

Elena Dementieva showing off her sexy back. She is definitely too hot to handle by Shahar Peer, who lost to Dementieva in straight sets in the third round yesterday.

What the heck is Richard Gasquet doing? Oh no, tennis forums will be discussing about his gay rumour again!

When you win, everyone will be there and cheer for you. When you lost, you'll be crying alone. Try again next year, Mauresmo!

(All pictures from Getty Images)

Clash of the Titans: Rafael Nadal vs Richard Gasquet at Shah Alam

It was a night to remember especially for tennis fans in Malaysia. Having two top 10 tennis players in the world in this country is something that is far from my imagination. Thanks to the Ministry of Youths and Sports, we are able to see Rafael Nadal and Richard Gasquet live in Malaysia for the very first time in an exhibition match called Clash of the Titans.

The MC for the night is Mahadzir Lokman which I think is appropriate since he knows how to speak Spanish and French. The Deputy Prime Minister and wife as well as the Minister of Youths and Sports were present that night.

The match started off with a performance by a local boy band, Ruffedge. To be honest, I wish the performance is by Sheila Majid, Ning Baizura or even Siti Nurhaliza who has more class and suitable for a high profile tennis event like this.

Then the event was followed by cultural dance. It was a very Malaysian-style event. I only hope that they are able to make it more grand for such a huge event like this (the MC said the event were broadcasted to over 50 countries) and not just a few people wearing different costumes doing some simple dance moves. It's just too old school for me.

Well, most of us were already anxious for Nadal and Gasquet to emerge. And so by 8.30 p.m. the players came out and I'm so relieved that the stadium was already more than 3/4 occupied. I managed to get a good sight of the players as I managed to move from my RM83 seat to a RM388 seat!

The MC asked some questions before we were introduced to the umpire who is a former national tennis player. The players warm up for few minutes and fans were already cheering seeing some great sharp returns made by the players. The show haven't started and you can see how good these guys are.

To cut the story short, the score for the night is 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 with Nadal winning the exhibition match. Through out the match, I managed to get to see Nadal's butt picking habit (!), fist pumping but there's no adjusting socks, placement of water bottles or any other rituals he normally do. Perhaps, it's just only an exhibition match. But Nadal seemed to be having a lot of fun and showing some tricks compares to Gasquet. By the third set, Gasquet was already tired and gave up although I wish this set could end up with a tie break.

The night would have been a perfect if the linesmen do their jobs well. Even the umpire made a few wrong calls that night. Speaking about professionalism in tennis, we are still very far behind. Even the Stadium Melawati needs some face lifting job done. I can't believe these world top players are playing in such a poor venue like this. Don't they have a better tennis court in Bukit Jalil?

Now, Roger Federer will be arriving Malaysia today with Pete Sampras. According to the organizer, they will be flying in through private jet and will land in Subang Airport instead of KLIA. I'm not sure if there's any changes in their flight schedule but you can check with the organizer by calling them up.

For Nadal's fans, I'll put up more pictures as soon as I've uploaded more pictures from the camera.