Less than 24 hours from winning one of the top matches of his career, the French player withdrew from Roland Garros with a wrist injury.
“I had the problem with my wrist that I cannot solve. Felt it during the match. Actually the whole match today,” he told the press.
“The doctor say was not good to play with that type of injury. Yesterday was actually very risky, and then today definitely say I should stop.”
The 36-year-old won against Sebastian Baez even while dealing with persistent cramps. It was his first completed match win for the season and many were looking forward to his match with Holger Rune.
“Physically, I’m quite fine. I was quite happy this morning. I woke up quite good,” he said. He was ranked Number 394 when he entered the French Open.
Monfils was recently asked what he thought was next for French men’s tennis. Many people are wondering where the great male French tennis players have gone.
His win in the opening round had people hoping for a comeback.
“It was a great atmosphere tonight like I guess for some spectators as well,” Monfils said. “I know I have some friends for the first time they came to Roland Garros, so I think it was a good experience for them.”
Monfils is one of the better French tennis players. He had the athleticism early in his career but he lacked the drive of the Big 3 and has always seen tennis as a brotherhood and not an arena for competition like the way that Djokovic sees it.