There is concern in France about the playing future of former world No. 7 Gael Monfils, who has struggled with knee injuries in 2012 and has seen his ranking drop to No. 77.
L’Equipe reported that it is unclear whether Monfils will return to play at the Australian Open, although his agent denies that. The 26-year-old Frenchman is said to have been unreachable for several days. He recently split with his coach, Patrick Chamagne, as well as with his physiotherapist.
Chamagne said Monfils is tired of gossip and currently, “he is hiding but I would not be surprised if it was a return to hell.”
Monfils’ agent, Nicolas Lemperin, countered that Monfils is not depressed and is having a normal off-season.
“I speak to him three or four times a day,” Lemperin said. “We just bought tickets to the Australian Open.”
Former Top 10 player Henri Leconte recently said that Monfils “is completely lost.”
Leconte then told <em>RTL.fr</em> that: “When you’re hurt so long, you can quickly go into depression. But it is the turning point in his life. He gives the impression of a wounded animal. Beware if the beast awakes ... “
Lionel Roux, who is a coach for the French Davis Cup team, said that the phone number he has for Monfils is down.