Gael Monfils to play next year’s Heineken Open – Tennis News
Former world number seven, Gael Monfils of France, has become the fourth, former or present combined, top-10 player, whose participation has been confirmed for coming season’s Heineken Open. The ATP World Tour 250 outdoor hard
court event will take place in Auckland from January 8 to 15, 2013.
The Frenchman joins current world number five, David Ferrer of Spain; former second ranked player from Germany, Tommy Haas; and once eighth ranked, Austria’s Jurgen Melzer at the Heineken Open. This is now one of the best line
ups in the history of this tournament.
Karl Budge, who is the tournament director here, said, "When we named the full field a couple of weeks ago, I was delighted to see the ranking cut off as low as 61. Adding Monfils to that lineup is the icing on the cake."
Monfils’ ranking has dropped to 77 now and he has been given a wild card to enter the main draw of the Heineken Open. The French player started his 2012 season with a bang at the same event but sustained a knee injury later on
and could not play most of the year.
The 6ft 4in tall contender stunned the then world number two, Rafael Nadal, in the semi-finals of the Qatar Exxon Mobil Open at the start of this year. However, he lost to his compatriot, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, in the title match.
The right-hander could not give a good showing at the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open, getting upset at the hands of Mikhail Kukushkin in the third round.
He bounced back next week, advancing to the final of the Open Sud de France but got beaten by Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych this time.
Budge added, "Monfils is often described as the player, outside the big four, who has the game to win a Grand Slam. And we all know what an entertainer he is. He loves to play up to the crowd."
Monfils is considered to be one of the most athletic players on the ATP World Tour. He has won four tour level titles and is a former three-time junior Grand Slam winner.
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