Gael Monfils Withdraws From French Open After Emotional Round One Win

The Frenchman won in five sets on Tuesday night, coming back from down 4–0 in the final set.

PARIS (AP) — A thrilling five-set victory took a toll on Gael Monfils, whose withdrawal from the French Open on Wednesday night handed No. 6 Holger Rune a walkover to the third round.

The 36-year-old Frenchman said he has a strained left wrist and can't continue.

He battled Sebastian Baez for nearly four hours on Court Philippe Chatrier before beating the Argentine 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 1-6, 7-5 in a first-round match that ended at 12:18 a.m. local time Wednesday.

THIS. IS. TENNIS. @Gael_Monfils #RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/hVEPryhZZ3

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 30, 2023

The victory was Monfils' first at tour level this year, as the veteran was coming back from heel surgery.

“Actually, physically, I’m quite fine. But I had the problem with my wrist that I cannot solve,” he said. “The doctor say was not good to play with that type of injury. Yesterday was actually very risky, and then today definitely say I should stop.”

Monfils reached the semifinals at the French Open in 2008 and made it to the quarterfinals on three other occasions.