Richard Gasquet is defending his country's attitude towards its tennis players, responding to Federer's recent scrutiny of French tennis.
While talking about the national pressure juniors experience, Federer told press at the Shanghai Masters, "France, an example, I think they make their players too big too soon, and then they become a bit, I don't want to say spoiled, but a bit too happy too soon rather than finishing their development."
But Gasquet, long among France's top players, said it's beneficial to get a positive reaction from the country.
"We should be congratulating ourselves from time to time, French sport is good all the same," Gasquet was quoted as saying by French press. "There are plenty of idiots from whom to hear, 'He couldn't do it.'"