Richard's post match interview, following his win over Verdasco.
Source: ASAP Sports
Q. Can you draw some lessons from this match?
RICHARD GASQUET: I don't know if I can draw some lessons. The only thing I can say is that it would have been very tough to lose.
In Davis Cup I already lost 8 6, so this time it would have been really difficult to accept. But he was hitting so hard that with my one hand backhand it was difficult.
I was staying back. He has one of the best forehands in the world. The match was tough. I'm very pleased that I fought until the end. This is the only thing I want to remember. Mentally and physically it was tough.
Q. How are you physically?
RICHARD GASQUET: I only started playing again on Friday and Saturday. I had a sore toe after the Davis Cup, so I was not prepared for this tournament. I didn't expect to play three hours today. I hope I'll be able to recuperate.
Q. He was up 2 Love, 40 Love. What did you think then?
RICHARD GASQUET: He can really be angry against himself for that game. I was not playing well then, and he really had to crush me at that precise moment.
Q. On the matchpoints, couldn't you have taken more initiative?
RICHARD GASQUET: I didn't miss. He was the one playing on the lines. He really can regret that game at 2 Love. It was good for me.
Q. When you see him playing one then two then three incredible shots, don't you start thinking you should take more risks?
RICHARD GASQUET: I wasn't expecting him to play those forehands all over the place. Congratulations to him. I can try to be more aggressive, but what I did was to play deep shots and waiting for the short one to come.
It was him who was playing well. As I said, I didn't expect such forehands. I really served very bad. It was a very bad match service wise. I had lost my rhythm, and on top of it he's a lefty so the zones are different. The only thing I can regret is my serve, not the rest.
Q. You often play long matches like against Youzhny and this one.
RICHARD GASQUET: Yes. Five hours and three hours.
Read the rest of the interview here