It is a cruel twist of fate when the most magnificent on-court moment in a swaggering Richard Gasquet’s formative years morphs into a career-cramping encumbrance.
It was a monumental boilover, a defeat of nigh-on unbeatable world No.1 Roger Federer as an 18-year-old, a triumph the Frenchman would not have changed for the world, but one which has followed him in his 16 years since on Tour. Three match points were saved in that Monte Carlo quarter-final, victory sealed off his signature shot, a running backhand pass unfurled from deep behind the baseline.
The Swiss had won 25 matches on the trot and would finish with an 81-4 record that year, picking up a third Wimbledon trophy along the way. It was only his second defeat of the season.
On Thursday, on Wimbledon’s Centre Court, the pair cross paths for the 21st time and Federer’s belief will be galvanised in the knowledge he has fallen to the Frenchman only once since.
“It’s tough to wake up every morning knowing that you have to defend your streak, or your record against the top 10 or the finals streak or all the streaks I’m having,” Federer said following that loss in 2005.
“I feel at the moment I’m playing against history more than the other players. It’s not so easy.” Little could he have foreseen he would still be playing against history 16 years later.
Gasquet had been touted alongside his peer, a talented southpaw from Mallorca, who went on to land his first of 20 Grand Slam titles a month later. Now at 35, while comparable successes have not followed, there have been ample moments on which to hang his hat: three Grand Slam semi-finals – including twice at Wimbledon – 15 titles and nearly $19million (£14million) in the kitty.
Still, there is no shying from what he is up against in the second round in SW19. Since beating Federer for only the second time a decade ago, Gasquet has not managed to salvage a set in their 10 meetings and has only landed three wins in 51 encounters against any of the Big Three.
Federer conceded he got lucky in his first outing since falling to Novak Djokovic in the final two years ago, when Gasquet’s compatriot, Adrian Mannarino, suffered an untimely knee injury while leading two sets to one.
“He was the better player, he could have won, I got a bit lucky,” Federer said. “That's how it goes sometimes, you don't get many walkovers and try not to have it happen to yourself. It's a reminder how quickly it goes but I am obviously happy I can get another match here.”
A semi-finalist in 2016 and doubles champion in 2017, Elena Vesnina had not banked on getting another match at the All England Club – let alone a win – when she called time on her career to start a family three years ago. The intention, she admitted, was never maternity leave, but a final goodbye.
Having made a gradual return to the Tour this year, the Russian notched a welcome return to the third round at Roland Garros last month. Second on Centre Court, she will meet the most hyped teenager on Tour, No.20 seed Coco Gauff, for a place in the third round.
The 17-year-old Gauff, while half her age, is enjoying a stellar 2021. The American collected a second career title in Parma before she scooped a maiden Grand Slam quarter-final in Paris and holds high aspirations of an improvement on her breakout run to the fourth round at Wimbledon as a 15-year-old qualifier two years ago.
One ambition has already been achieved this season, selection in the US Olympic team for Tokyo. “That was one of the goals this year, was to qualify for the team,” Gauff said. “Especially my mum, she ran track. She didn't make the Olympics, but it was one of her dreams. She told me that I kind of accomplished that dream for her.”
During her run in Paris last month, Gauff recalled coming through as a junior with the likes of “[Lorenzo] Musetti and the Spanish player, Carlos”. That “Spanish player, Carlos” – Carlos Alcaraz – will look to advance to his maiden third round at The Championships on Wednesday, when he squares off against No.2 seed Daniil Medvedev on No.1 Court.
The 18-year-old registered his first Tour win on grass on debut when he scraped through in more than four hours against Yasutaka Uchiyama, however, Mallorca champion Medvedev poses a sizeable step up.
The name many quietly feared next to theirs in the men’s draw, Nick Kyrgios, backs up after his second five-set triumph over Ugo Humbert this year on Wednesday. Italian world No.77 Gianluca Mager is next and the Australian issued a timely reminder what he is capable of doing. “I know how to play on grass. I'm not scared of anyone in the draw,” Kyrgios said.
His compatriot, ladies' No.1 seed Ashleigh Barty, returns to open Day 4 on Centre Court against Russian Anna Blinkova. A three-time champion already this season, the 25-year-old brought a close to Carla Suarez Navarro’s Wimbledon career in the opening round. Gracious at having shared the court for three sets with the retiring Spaniard, Barty is hopeful of a smoother outing on Day 4.