“It’s Heartbreaking” – Gael Monfils Reveals Psychological Reason to End 2020 Season Before Time
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via Reuters
France’s Gael Monfils in action during his first round match against Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann REUTERS/Cathrin Mueller
World No.11 Gael Monfils recently announced that he won’t be playing any more tennis in the year 2020. The Frenchman took the decision after he suffered a neck injury in the Round of 32 at the Vienna Open 2020. He lost the first set against Pablo Carreno Busta and never looked comfortable during the match. However, the 34-year-old believes that it is the mental problem and not the physical one which forced me to take the decision.
“I can’t relax when I’m on the court…It is a mental block that becomes physical. I need to get back to work with a mental trainer. Now, I can’t visualize and when it goes I see myself sad. I get frustrated too quickly in a match. Mentally, there is a problem. I have no more fire,” admitted Monfils.
Monfils started the 2020 season beautifully winning the ‘Open Sud de France’ and ATP Rotterdam titles. He even reached the semi-finals of the Dubai Tennis Championships, where World No.1 Novak Djokovic conquered him. Although he got a perfect start, he couldn’t capitalize on it. Once tennis resumed after the long break, the Frenchman has not won a single match.
“Have Hardly Any Options”- Gael Monfils Ends 2020 With a Losing Streak
“When I resumed, I no longer had the same confidence”- Gael Monfils
via Reuters
France’s Gael Monfils in action during his first-round match against Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik REUTERS/Charles Platiau
Monfils also revealed what happened to him during the break. He emphasized that not meeting his family for a long time was one of the reasons that affected him psychologically.
“I lost a lot during confinement…When I resumed, I no longer had the same confidence. There, at home, I was touched by many more things. I have lost my mental strength. I spent a lot of time without seeing my family. It’s been over a year since I saw my mother … Psychologically, it’s hard and it left its mark,” said the 34-year-old.
It’s definitely not easy for Monfils to take such a decision this quickly. He must have thought about it 100 times. He accepted that it was not the withdrawal from the tournament but ending the season this way that broke his heart.
“I am very disappointed not to play in the tournament. In addition, it is a tournament that I often missed. But if I go without envy … It is useless. It’s heartbreaking, but above all, it’s heartbreaking to stop the season,” concluded a pained Monfils.
There were even rumors about Monfils’ retirement that he brushed off immediately. Fans want him to recover soon both physically and mentally and come back fully prepared for the Australian Open 2021.
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