Gasquet shares what it was like growing up alongside Nadal

In a video feature for the ATP, Richard Gasquet reflects on nearly two decades of playing against—and almost always losing to—his friend, Rafael Nadal.

"I remember the first time I saw him. I was 13 years old," Gasquet says. "I won, I think. It was the first time and the last time."

Nadal went on to take all 15 of their official matches, with Gasquet getting only one victory by retirement in a 2003 ATP Challenger, when they were both 17. The pair, born 15 days apart, are now 31.

As fast-rising teenage prodigies, Gasquet and Nadal had similarly high expectations placed on them, with Gasquet crediting his competitor for being the one to pull away and have an all-time great career.

The 2005 Monte Carlo semifinals was their second career meeting. Gasquet won the first set in a tiebreak, but Nadal came back to win. The burgeoning King of Clay would then claim the title—his first of 10 so far.

Less than two months later, Nadal beat an 18-year-old Gasquet again, this time in straight sets, en route to his first of 10 French Opens.

"It was amazing how much energy he had outside the court, [and] inside of course," Gasquet says. "That's why it's an incredible player and an incredible person. That's why he's Rafa Nadal."

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