Rumors of Monfils death are greatly exaggerated
This was the terse note at the top of the daily results email from the Citi Open Media Director tonight:
‘Note: Gael Monfils has withdrawn with a biceps injury. His position in the draw will be filled by a qualifier.’
Hello!
Poring over these qualifying matches and trying to write posts about Saturday’s on-court action suddenly came to a sobering halt.
All I know is that he had a pair of grueling three setters in a row at the ATP Vegeta Croatian Open over the last two days. On Friday, he beat Albert Montanes 6-0, 5-2, 7-5 and yesterday in the semifinals, Fabio Fognini got what was left of Monfils in eliminating the Frenchman 6-0, 3-6, 7-6(3).
I feel for Gaels Monfils.
And all the amateur and professional photographers in the DC area who see him as the Holy Grail of Tennis Subjects with his vertical style. He will be missed.
In the meantime, you can watch this video of Monfils in DC from 2011, which seemed to infuriate his fans to the tune of 109,000 views. It was an early attempt at humor that won’t be repeated anytime soon, even though given the metrics, maybe I should?
—Steve Fogleman
Tennis Atlantic 