Gael Monfils opened up on the struggles injured tennis players go through and says recovery and comeback to tennis takes a lot of mental discipline.
Speaking following his come-from-behind 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over British No. 1 Cameron Norrie at the Cincinnati Masters, Monfils never doubted if he'll be able to sustain his physical fitness at the top level, but questioned the temerity with which it would take him to regain his discipline.
Monfils explains that people on the outside often don't see the bigger picture and think it is easy to come back after a lengthy spell with injuries. He says that sometimes people mistake his personality and demeanor and conclude that it's not too hard to get back into shape.
It's been an encouraging return for Monfils, who recently overcame a wrist problem that ended his French Open prematurely and also missed this year's Wimbledon.
"Maybe not doubt, but be down a little bit in a way that you need to go back again and get all this discipline. Because people sometimes they think it's easy to come back. They see me move easy. They see my quite chill and laughing and doing that. As I say, no one knows, like, all the pain that I need to impose my body to get back into shape. All the mental discipline. More is tough to get back."
"Every time I see and people tell me that I make the show and this, I'm happy because it's mean that, wow, I'm back. It seems easy for people. It's mean I worked quite hard and is paying off."
Now 36, and a seasoned veteran on the Tour, it was only natural that staying at home for many months would give him a different perspective on life and his career. He says that he disconnects from tennis while away from it, and questioned if he wanted to go back during his injury turmoil. Luckily for him, his wife Elina Svitolina, who is a WTA player has been his biggest motivator.
"But when you get older, now with the family, sometime you're like, Hmmm, maybe home is good, too. I mean, lucky or not to have my wife who is pushing me to stay on the tour."
"But, no, it's not easy mentally. I think I never doubt physically because I feel like I been blessed. When I decide to work, I think I can be physically good and compete. But, as I told you, the toughest part is the discipline that you have to get back to this shape."
Monfils will look to pick up his seventh win at this summer's US swing when he faces Australia's Alex de Minaur in the third round on Wednesday afternoon.
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