French stars hit practice courts in Paris, Benoit Paire delays return

French tennis star Richard Gasquet, 33, hit the practice courts in Paris while in the city on medical exams. The 33-year-old practiced with rising French star Corentin Moutet on the clay courts. Meanwhile, 2019 Australian Open semifinalist Lucas Pouille was spotted on the clay courts of Roland Garros.

Pouille, a former world No. 10, has chosen world No. 194 Quentin Halys to be his sparring partner. Meanwhile, French world No. 22 Benoit Paire will a bit more time off as he eyeing to hit the practice courts later this month.

French 🎾 update:
Gasquet, while on medical exams in Paris, was hitting on clay courts, this Monday joined by Moutet.
Pouille started hitting at RG on Monday (w/ Halys) and plans on playing every two days.
Paire will be back on courts in the end of May.https://t.co/vOK2zWD5o7 — Oleg S.

(@AnnaK_4ever) May 19, 2020

Gasquet, a former world No. 7, missed the beginning of this season as a knee injury forced to skip the whole Australian summer. Gasquet kicked off his season in Montpellier and managed to play three tournaments in February before the Tour got suspended.

The 33-year-old has been battling with various injuries over the last couple of years and his best days on the Tour are behind him. Pouille, now ranked at No. 58 in the world, also struggled with health issues earlier this year as he skipped the first two months of the season.

In his lone tournament played this year, the 26-year-old Frenchman lost to Noah Rubin in his opener at the Indian Wells Challenger. Paire, 31, ended runner-up in Auckland at the beginning of the year but since then he hasn't won back-to-back matches.