The Australian Open did not start in the best way on Monday for the French. As qualifying began in Melbourne, the first three Habs entered in the men’s category disappeared from the start: Richard Gasquet, Harold Mayot and Ugo Blanchet. The 38-year-old from Biterrois, a few months before his sporting retirement, scheduled after Roland-Garros, will therefore not compete in an 18th “Australian”.
Now ranked 132nd in the ATP, Richard Gasquet lost to Croatian Duje Ajdukovic (139th, 23 years old) in two sets, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3. This is the first time since 2021 that the French veteran will not appear in the main draw of the first Grand Slam tournament on the calendar. Gasquet played his first Australian Open in 2003, at just 16 years old.
Other French people entered this Monday, Harold Mayot (116th) and Ugo Blanchet (226th) were also eliminated in the first round of qualifying in Melbourne, beaten respectively 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) by the Japanese Yasutaka Uchiyama ( 147th) and 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 by the Czech Dalibor Svrcina. Qualifying for the first Grand Slam tournament of the season will continue until Thursday, before the main draw begins on Sunday.
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