Richard Gasquet Hires a Coach

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 28th November 2013

BNP Paribas 2013 Masters Tennis Tournament

Richard Gasquet Hires a Coach

epa03929043 Richard Gasquet of France returns the ball to Fernando Verdasco of Spain during their second round match at the BNP Paribas 2013 Masters tennis tournament in Paris, France, 29 October 2013. EPA/IAN LANGSDON |

World no.9 Richard Gasquet has moved quickly to replace coach Riccardo Piatti who walked out on the Frenchman midway through the recent Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London and will be working with former French Open champion Sergi Bruguera from next February.

The Spaniard, who has no prior coaching experience in top flight tennis and has been working with his father Luis at their Barcelona academy, has reportedly been co-opted to fill the Piatti void at the suggestion of Gasquet’s other coach Sebastien Grosjean.

Gasquet was reportedly in Barcelona earlier this week finalizing the arrangement that will begin after the Australian Open. Grosjean will travel to Melbourne with the 27 year-old before Bruguera comes on board with his clay court expertise.

Bruguera, now aged 42, won back to back Roland Garros titles in 1993 and 1994 before being forced to retire from top flight tennis eight years later because of persistent ankle problems. He still competes occasionally on the ATP Champions Tour and is scheduled to contest the Statoil Masters at London’s Royal Albert Hall next week.

Piatti later said his dramatic exit was due to ‘personal reasons’ and it is understood he wanted to spend less time traveling the world and more with his family.

Topics: 10sballs, Atp World Tour, Australian Open, French Open, Richard Gasquet, Sergi Bruguera, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News