Gael Monfils - Olympia in Paris as the last big career highlight?
Gael Monfils will be delayed for the 2023 season. The French veteran is not yet thinking of resigning. Especially since one big goal remains: the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
by Jens Huiber
last edit: Dec 08, 2022, 11:22 am
Actually, Gael Monfils should be sweating with coach Günter Bresnik in Tenerife these days, preparing for the 2023 season. That worked pretty well a year ago, Monfils was able to win his eleventh career title right at the start of the season in Adelaide. Then it went to the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, where Monfils had good chances of progressing against Matteo Berrettini - but failed in five sets.
Monfils' clay court season was limited to two appearances in Madrid. The 36-year-old played his last match in Montreal, where he had to retire against Jack Draper in round three. Since then, Monfils has been suffering from an injury, but at least he and his wife Elina Svitolina were able to celebrate the birth of their first daughter Skai.
Monfils in Rio 2016 in the quarterfinals
A few days ago it was announced that Gael Monfils will be absent from the Australian Open 2023 due to injury. But that does not mean that the end of his career is imminent. On the contrary: the veteran has set himself a big goal. “2023 is an important year for me, a year of transition. The transition between my injuries and the fact that I want to be competitive and qualify for Paris 2024. I don't want to miss the Olympic Games. Because it would be my last,” explained Monfils.
In 2016, Monfils failed in the quarter-finals in Rio de Janeiro because of Kei Nishikori, just like eight years earlier in Beijing because of Novak Djokovic. In 2012 in London and 2021 in Tokyo, Gael Monfils did not start at the Olympics.