Unfortunately, Gaël Monfils will not be able to defend his runner-up finish from last year as he decided this afternoon to withdraw from the singles draw for medical reasons.
Suffering from his right ankle for a few weeks now, the Frenchman teamed up in doubles late in the morning with Benoît Paire, realized his inability to move due to the pain still being too intense.
“I wasn’t moving well enough yet to be able to play singles,” he confided a few minutes after the announcement of his withdrawal.
He did not hide his disappointment: “I am very disappointed because last year, I reached the final, and it’s a tournament I really like…”
This decision, which was forced upon him at the end of the day, did not prevent Gaël from going to meet with schoolchildren from Nice in the heart of the city. Between exchanging balls on a street tennis court and a signing session, the young students left with memories of their idol full in their minds.
The Frenchman will be replaced by the American giant Sam Querrey, a former world number 17, who will face the defending champion Albert Montanes.
