With Gael Monfils, far left, Gilles Simon, second from left, Richard Gasquet, third from left, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, far right, coming through the ranks at about the same time, there were high hopes for the so-called "New Musketeers" of French tennis.
Promising future —
With Gael Monfils, far left, Gilles Simon, second from left, Richard Gasquet, third from left, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, far right, coming through the ranks at about the same time, there were high hopes for the so-called "New Musketeers" of French tennis.
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Those expectations were raised when an 18-year-old Gasquet saved three match points to beat Roger Federer, left, at the Monte Carlo Masters in 2005.
Expectations raised —
Those expectations were raised when an 18-year-old Gasquet saved three match points to beat Roger Federer, left, at the Monte Carlo Masters in 2005.
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They were further raised when Tsonga reached the Australian Open final in 2008, upsetting Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal along the way. He led Djokovic by a set in the final before the Serb rallied to claim his maiden grand slam title.
Close call —
They were further raised when Tsonga reached the Australian Open final in 2008, upsetting Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal along the way. He led Djokovic by a set in the final before the Serb rallied to claim his maiden grand slam title.
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And even now, France has 12 players inside the men's top 100. One of them is the exciting Benoit Paire, who had a breakthrough 2013. But ...
Bright Benoit —
And even now, France has 12 players inside the men's top 100. One of them is the exciting Benoit Paire, who had a breakthrough 2013. But ...
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Tsonga hasn't reached another grand slam final and hasn't been able to consistently trouble the so-called "Big Four" of Nadal, Djokovic, Federer and Murray.
No-go, Jo —
Tsonga hasn't reached another grand slam final and hasn't been able to consistently trouble the so-called "Big Four" of Nadal, Djokovic, Federer and Murray.
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Gasquet, who was on the cover of a French tennis magazine when he was an adolescent, qualified for the prestigious year-end championships in 2007 but then missed out until 2013. He also served a drug suspension in 2009, although the ban was later overturned.
Blown a Gasquet —
Gasquet, who was on the cover of a French tennis magazine when he was an adolescent, qualified for the prestigious year-end championships in 2007 but then missed out until 2013. He also served a drug suspension in 2009, although the ban was later overturned.
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Murray described Monfils as probably tennis' best ever athlete but the elastic 27-year-old has made it to only one grand slam semifinal and rarely sparkles at big tournaments outside France.
Elastic not-so fantastic? —
Murray described Monfils as probably tennis' best ever athlete but the elastic 27-year-old has made it to only one grand slam semifinal and rarely sparkles at big tournaments outside France.
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Simon advanced to the semifinals of the year-end championships in 2008, the season he topped Federer and Nadal. But it was his lone appearance at the year-end championships and he has a mere one grand slam quarterfinal to his name -- in 2009.
Dreams dashed —
Simon advanced to the semifinals of the year-end championships in 2008, the season he topped Federer and Nadal. But it was his lone appearance at the year-end championships and he has a mere one grand slam quarterfinal to his name -- in 2009.
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It's 31 years since a Frenchman last won a grand slam singles title. Yannick Noah achieved the feat at Roland Garros in 1983, downing Mats Wilander.
A long drought —
It's 31 years since a Frenchman last won a grand slam singles title. Yannick Noah achieved the feat at Roland Garros in 1983, downing Mats Wilander.
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Switzerland, meanwhile, only has two men in the top 100 -- but both Stanislas Wawrinka, left, and Federer are grand slam singles champions.
Needles in the haystack —
Switzerland, meanwhile, only has two men in the top 100 -- but both Stanislas Wawrinka, left, and Federer are grand slam singles champions.
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Gasquet, Tsonga and Monfils have all spoken about wanting to win the Davis Cup for France this year. Les Bleus -- who will face Germany in April's quarterfinals -- last triumphed in the team competition in 2001 when they defeated Australia on the road.
All for one? —
Gasquet, Tsonga and Monfils have all spoken about wanting to win the Davis Cup for France this year. Les Bleus -- who will face Germany in April's quarterfinals -- last triumphed in the team competition in 2001 when they defeated Australia on the road.
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