Gael Monfils hopes of getting back into the top 10 – Tennis News
French star, Gael Monfils, has said that he has made a new start after getting back to the ATP World Tour from the injury break as he is motivated to get back to the top 10 ranked players in the world.
The Frenchman did not play competitive tennis for four months in this season, from May to September, due to a knee injury. In his last match before the lay-off, the right-hander lost to USA’s Brian Baker in straight sets 3-6, 6-7(9)
in the second round of the Open de Nice Côte d’Azur in May.
Monfils regained his fitness and made comeback at his home event, Moselle Open, in Metz, France last week. It was a successful one, as he reached the last-four stage, losing to the then world number 28, Andreas Seppi, in the semi-finals.
The 6ft 4in tall toppled Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber, ranked 18th at that time, in the quarters.
The Frenchman is continuing to impress on his comeback this week, as he stunned the sixth seed, Viktor Troicki of Serbia, in the second round of the Thailand Open in Bangkok.
In the first round, Monfils had beaten South African qualifier, Kevin Anderson, in three sets 6-4, 2-6, 7-5 after a tough battle of two hours and 25 minutes.
The Frenchman said while talking to the media people during the post match press conference, "It's really tough to focus again, that is the biggest thing. It was four tough months for me, I didn't know when I would be back on the
court. That is tough on the mind. I've been in the top 10 and I'm motivated to be there again, it's a new start for me. I have new goals, a new mindset and mentality."
He added, "It was a long time that I didn't play. I need a lot more tennis. I played OK, but just enough to win today."
Monfils has a 19-8 win/loss record in the ongoing season, reaching title matches at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha and then Open Sud de France in Montpellier.
The French participant will play the fourth seed, Gilles Simon, in the quarter-finals here.
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