Gael Monfils says fitness was the reason he failed to close out his third-round match against Tommy Robredo, which he lost in five sets despite holding a two-set lead. The former world No. 7, who was injured for most of 2012, played 13 matches in the last two weeks.
“If I really lose for physical reasons, but maybe today he was physically fitter than me,” Monfils said. “Already during the match I started feeling some problems. I tried to hide it, but there comes a stage when whatever you do to hide your physical problems you can no longer hide them, and he became stronger and stronger. Congratulations. He fought really well, physically speaking, and he won. It is frustrating, because I don't like to lose matches for physical or fitness matches. But today I have to admit he was stronger.”