Gael Monfils played well during the US Open swing last year, but the Frenchman isn't doing well these days, attributing it to confidence issues.
The 37-year-old is still competing on the ATP Tour, which is really amazing. This is a player who has been around for many years, and not only that, but he's also one of the players with the longest injury history, dealing with all sorts of issues over the years.
Very few would have bet a decade ago that Monfils would still be around right now with all the injuries he's had in the past, but he's here, and he's not planning to stop competing anytime soon.
Monfils had a decent 2023 season with a few good events. He hasn't played too many events in recent years, which is expected considering his age, and that's the case this year as well.
He's been playing on a decent level for the most part, even though he lacks any significant runs. Last year's US Open series was a really good run for him.
He made the quarter-final in Toronto, the third round in Cincinnati, and the second round of the US Open. He lost to Andrey Rublev in New York, so his draw wasn't the best, but overall, his performances have been good.
This year, it hasn't been like that as the Canadian Open finished in the opening round for him, as he lost to Thanasi Kokkinakis. It wasn't the best showing from Monfils, and he's generally not been playing that well this year.
Taking to social media after that exit, Monfils provided an update, admitting to struggling with his confidence after not being able to find his best tennis in a while.
"We often share the moments when everything is going well, but it’s also important to recognize when things aren’t going well. I spend a lot of time training, but right now, the feelings and confidence aren’t really there. It’s not easy, but I’m going to keep working hard to get all that back. We’re not giving up."
Clearly, Monfils is still motivated to compete because he's not going to be around for many years. It's likely that next year will be his final if not even this year.
He has not talked about it so far, but he seems motivated to continue, and we shouldn't doubt that. Having one of the biggest fan favorites still around is great for the sport because everybody loves him.
He will have a decent chance of winning in Cincinnati, as he's playing Alexei Popyrin in the first round. The Australian just won the Canadian Open by beating Andrey Rublev in the final, and it will be a quick and tricky turnaround for him to move to Cincinnati.
Players tend to struggle in their next match after winning a big trophy, especially those who have never done that. On the flip side, he's playing an in-form player, so that might be tough to overcome.
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