Richard Gasquet: Roger Federer is irreplaceable in terms of aesthetics, personality

Former world No. 7 Richard Gasquet has dropped a major praise on Roger Federer, saying the Swiss will be irreplaceable when he retires. 

Gasquet, 35, has clashed Federer 21 times over the course of his career but he has never had much success against the Swiss. 

Federer owns a dominant 19-2 head-to-head record against Gasquet. 

“There are young guys who play very, very well, who have a good level, who deserve to find their place and who are incredible, but Nadal and Federer, they are world stars! When they're not there, for me, it leaves a huge void. Federer will be irreplaceable in terms of aesthetics, tennis and for his personality. We will never see that again," Gasquet said, per We Love Tennis. 

Federer suffers another setback 

Federer, who underwent two knee surgeries last season, is set to undergo a third knee surgery. 

"I just wanted to give you a bit of an update [on] what’s been going on since Wimbledon. As you can imagine, it’s not been simple. I’ve been doing a lot of checks with the doctors as well on my knee, getting all the information as I hurt myself further during the grass-court season and Wimbledon,” Federer said in a video. “That’s just not the way to go forward, so unfortunately they told me for the medium to long term to feel better, I will need surgery. I decided to do it.

“I’ll be on crutches for many weeks and also out of the game for many months, so it’s going to be difficult of course in some ways, but at the same time I know it’s the right thing to do because I want to be healthy, I want to be running around later as well again and I want to give myself a glimmer of hope to return to the tour in some shape or form.

"Also a big thank you already now for all of your messages that are going to be coming in because you guys are always incredible. You always think of me. Some of you suffer with me. I’ll update you as I move along with my rehab. I wish you all the best and I’ll check in with you soon.”

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2Wfil39