Richard Gasquet will end his career after the French Open next year. At 38, the French player renowned for his exceptional one-handed backhand told L’Equipe newspaper he plans to call it quits at the clay-court Grand Slam in front of his home fans.

A tennis star is set to call time on his career nearly quarter of a century after playing in his first Grand Slam.

Rafael Nadal won 22 Grand Slam titles in his decorated career. 14 of them came at the Roland Garros - a love affair that symbolises one of the most dominant sporting achievements by an athlete. Beating Nadal on the red dirt of Paris was nearly impossible.

When a weary David Ferrer managed to win just five games in his French Open semi-final loss to Rafael Nadal in 2012, he was in no doubt over the enormity of the challenge.