World No. 40 Gael Monfils has made a tough start to the Golden Swing this season. Playing in his second tournament on clay at the 2024 Monte Carlo Masters, the result was no different than his previous event in Estoril.
Following an epic comeback win against Aleksander Vukic in the first round, Monfils clashed with Daniil Medvedev. The Russian despite his dislike for clay managed to see out the match which had its fair share of controversy. This included a classic Medvedev meltdown against the chair umpire.
The 37-year-old is currently juggling his professional and personal life having welcomed his daughter Skai in October 2022. Since then, Monfils and his wife Elina Svitolina have both often spoken about the challenge of leaving their daughter at home while competing in the tournaments across globe.
It's tough, because every decision is a sacrifice either for the family or for the tennis. It's not easy. It's very complicated. That's when you were lucky or unlucky to grow up being selfish, and it makes me sad, because in our kind of life you do many things back to back and you miss important moments. said Monfils speaking in the press conference in Monte Carlo.
The couple also tried to take Skai along with them at tournament sites but they didn’t continue it for longer. The former World No. 6 admitted that choosing between his daughter and tournaments is turning extremely difficult every week.
Some people say you'll do that later, but your daughter is one year old once and two years old once and not again. So either you go and play, you try to be tough, or yesterday you hinted that I might be able to go to the Olympics, but, you know, thank you, tennis, but this is a week also where I can say no, and every decision is hard to make. added the Frenchman.
Gael Monfils withdraws from next week’s Romanian Open
Following the appearance in Monte Carlo, Monfils was expected at the ATP-250 event in Romania, the 2024 Tiriac Open. The tournament will be played from the 15th to the 21st April. It is one of the three simultaneous events scheduled next week alongside the ATP-500 Barcelona Open and the ATP-250 Munich Open.
The French veteran has however chosen to withdraw and has been replaced by compatriot Hugo Gaston in the main-draw. Given his recent statement, the withdrawal hints at him wanting to spend time with family. He is next expected to play the 2024 Madrid Masters followed by the 2024 Rome Masters.
With his home slam, the 2024 French Open, scheduled next month, Monfils would be happy to play in Paris. This will allow him to compete while being close to home thus enjoying his family time as well.
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