Still bothered by health concerns, Gaël Monfils once again said goodbye to the Davis Cup. He, who has not tasted it since the final phase of 2019, had been selected by Sébastien Grosjean to play this play-off against Ecuador on March 4 and 5 in Pau. Unfortunately, the Parisian was forced to withdraw as he confirmed on social networks.
“Hello everyone, I wanted to give you some news following my recent tournament withdrawals. I suffered a small health glitch (probably following my third dose of vaccine). On the advice of my doctor, I decided to take time to rest. So unfortunately I will not be able to play the Davis Cup next week. I hope to be able to come back to the United States, ”tweeted the current best French player.
A disappointing announcement after a brilliant start to the season
Winner of the Adelaide tournament and quarter-finalist of the Australian Open, where he lost in five sets against the Italian Matteo Berrettini, Gaël Monfils had made an excellent start to the season. Difficult to say as much of his month of February. The world number 25, received on his return from Australia, his third dose of vaccine for Covid-19. It is this last injection which would be at the origin of the health problems of the Frenchman whose performances were strongly affected. First crushed by Mikael Ymer for his entry in the running in Montpellier, then forfeit successively in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai, Gaël Monfils finally announced on Tuesday his forfeit for the Davis Cup play-off between France and Ecuador . He is expected to return in March for the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and Miami.
Sébastien Grosjean will have to find a replacement
Sébastien Grosjean, the Davis Cup captain, is already looking for a replacement. Ugo Humbert follows Monfils in the ATP ranking (41st), but he suffers from an adductor injury. Benoît Paire (49th) remains on a catastrophic South American clay court tour and will face Daniil Medvedev in the first round in Acapulco. The selection could also concern Arthur Rinderknech (53rd), who has already played the Davis Cup and the ATP Cup and has just beaten Shapovalov returning from a wrist injury, and Benjamin Bonzi (64th), who has just won the Challenger de Cherbourg, to play his first semi-final on the ATP circuit, in Marseille, but who has just withdrawn from the Challenger de Pau due to a back injury.
