‘I can’t get out of this nightmare’: French tennis star breaks down in tears and says he feels ‘judged’ when he lost his first round at an Open Australia
- Gael Monfils overcame with emotion after the Australian Open shock
- The French star broke into a conference after the game after going down in five sets
- The loss of the first round was the worst result at number 11 in the world at the Australian Open
- World Ukrainian girl and women number five in action first round Tuesday
A tennis star has fought back tears in front of the world media after being the biggest tragedy on the first day of the Australian Open.
World men’s 11th-placed Frenchman Gael Monfils went out in the first round of a five-set marathon against Finland’s 86-man world Emil Ruusuvuori in Melbourne on Monday .
The 3-6 6-4 7-5 3-6 6-3 loss was his worst result at the Australian Grand Slam, and he had skipped wide to win the game.
Monfils was clearly overwhelmed with emotion while speaking to reporters in French in his post-match press conference.
French tennis star Gael Monfils (right) missed the first round loss on the first day of the Australian Open. He is pictured with Ukrainian girlfriend Elina Svitolina at women’s fifth in last year’s competition in Melbourne
‘I’d like to get out of this nightmare, but I can’t,’ said Monfils, wiping away tears and holding his face in his hands.
‘I don’t know when it will end. It’s sad. Every time I get here I feel judged, I am lost again.
‘I don’t feel well. ‘
Monfils has not won a game since tennis tournaments resumed after a mid-year coronavirus outbreak.
‘I can’t service, I play badly. I’m being honest and it will take time, ‘he said.
‘You have to keep training and he’ll come back, that’s the thing’.
‘I’ll tell a simple phrase from my mother. She tells me, “Keep training and it will come back”. That’s the only thing. ‘
Struggling to get his opinion back, the press conference was cut short by officials.
The devastation was clearly visible on Gael Monfils who were drained after Monday’s terrible loss. He is pictured breaking down in his conference after Monday’s game
Elina Svitolina, women’s number five in the world (pictured right with her boyfriend Gael Monfils) is hoping for a better result in her first round on Tuesday at the Australian Open
This is probably the last Grand Slam in Australia for the 34-year-old as his form decline continues.
He had his best result at the Australian Open five years ago when he reached the semi-finals.
Monfils were not the only horrific casualties on the first day of the Australian Open.
Competition award winner Angelique Kerber went out in straight sets against U.S. opponent Bernarda Pera.
Monfils ’Ukrainian boyfriend Elina Svitolina, 26, of the women’s world, will be hoping for a better result when she takes on Czech opponent Marie Bouzková on center court at Rod Laver Arena Tuesday.
Gael Monfils (pictured) were overcome with emotion after dropping out of the first round to record his worst result at the Australian Open.