Rinderknech after qualifying for the second round of Roland-Garros: “Gasquet, an example”

“This tie-break won when Gasquet came back in the fourth set must have done you good…
I’m not going to lie on that. That last forehand where the referee comes down from the chair and shows me the flat hand, it did me good. But I didn’t steal that tie-break. I knew how to reframe myself.

You paid tribute to Gasquet on leaving the court. What does it represent for you?
If we have to define him, he is a champion. I had this chance to know him. He wants to share, to help the youngest. I remember training together at Racing four years ago. This struck me. I was 330th in the world, he gave me some advice that stuck with me. He had followed the results the following week… This is the hallmark of champions. So it’s a special victory. This is a very great example. This may explain the “extra-tension” at the end of the match. It didn’t take much. Two double faults and he left like a caged lion…”