A monumental feat was followed by a huge blow. Gael Monfils, the hero of Tuesday evening on Center Court, is announcing his package for the remainder of Roland Garros 2023 this Wednesday night. Surprise for everyone, for him first of all. The Frenchman reports that he was the victim of a partial torn ligament in his left wrist. The injury is too serious to continue the tournament and reach the second round he was supposed to play, again at Central on Thursday night against world No. 6 Dane Holger Rune.
The announcement for this package came in at 23:20 this Wednesday. To everyone’s surprise, when Novak Djokovic had just finished on Philippe-Chatrier, the spectators were already preparing to leave the enclosure. “Gael Monfils is going to the press conference room,” we hear backstage in the media space. Unheard of, according to a significant part of the audience, including experienced journalists. But it is logical when, in a few moments, we learn that the French learned the news “barely half an hour ago.”
“I don’t show it much, but it’s more than a disappointment,” the 36-year-old describes. How many Rolands do I have left? I cannot answer this question. I just heard this news. So for now, I’m digesting.” The man who made the French public dream on Tuesday night during a historic five-set win after a try against Argentinian Sebastian Baez is feeling somewhat despondent and without any prospects for the future. Monfils continues to smile and agrees to answer a few questions. He was under no obligation and could be content with a simple press release.
“I was in pain yesterday. The moment in the match, I called the physiotherapist, described the main stakeholders in two seconds. But I tell myself that I’m manipulating myself and that I don’t need it. I end the match with adrenaline. After I arrived at the press conference, we immediately froze. I thought everything was going well. This morning I took anti-inflammatory drugs. But we hit the ball a little and I was still hurt. So I still got treated. I practiced again this afternoon, but I felt like I was still in pain, so the exams had to be postponed again. In the end, with the doctor who wasn’t quite sure (laughs), we did an MRI and told me no, I can’t play.”
Injury, due to which he could be absent from the courts for “several weeks”. Exact time? “That’s a good question… I have another exam tomorrow to find out what exactly is missing. Usually it won’t be huge. It can be very fast, for example, a little longer. Tomorrow I will know more. But the doctor told me that I have high hopes for playing on grass.” With this package and the elimination of four Frenchmen this Wednesday, only Arthur Rinderknech remains in the race for the men’s tricolor.
Source: Le Parisien
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