Distraught Gael Monfils breaks down in tears over ‘nightmare’ form as world No10 is KO’d in Australian Open first round

DISTRAUGHT Gael Monfils broke down in tears and revealed he was living through a ‘nightmare’ after becoming the highest male casualty of the Australian Open first day.

The No.10 seed from France saw his awful form continue as he was shocked by 21-year-old Finnish rival Emil Ruusuvouri 3-6 6-4 7-5 3-6 6-3.

Gael Monfils was left distraught after he was knocked out of the Australian Open in the first roundHe broke down in tears following his shock loss to Finnish rival Emil Ruusuvouri

The 34-year-old, who has reached the semi-finals of the French and US Opens, has not won a match since tennis returned from its pandemic-forced suspension last July.

His record since Covid-19 restrictions were lifted last summer reads played six, lost six, which includes early departures in Melbourne and at Roland Garros.

Speaking to French media post-match, Monfils started to cry, saying he was at a crossroads in his career.

Emotional Monfils struggled initially to find the right words, but then said: “I don’t have any confidence.

“I would like to get out of this nightmare but I can’t. I do not feel well.

“I don’t know when it’s going to end. It’s hard. Every time I get here I feel judged, I’ve lost again.

“I can’t serve, I’m playing badly. I’m being honest and it’s going to take time.

“I’ll share the simple advice my mother will give me: ‘You have to keep training and it will come back.’ That’s the only thing.”

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Monfils, whose girlfriend is 2019 Wimbledon semi-finalist Elina Svitolina from Ukraine, is one of the most popular players on the circuit.

Last November he was signed up by the ATP to host a Twitch live chat with other stars, including former world No.1 Andy Murray.

Three-time Australian Open champion Mats Wilander reckons the absence of fans throughout the coronavirus pandemic has contributed to his demons.

Swede Wilander, a former world No.1, told Eurosport: “For Gael Monfils, this is a tough situation to be in, he’s a social human being and loves to play in front of a crowd.

“2020 has been a horrible year for people like Gael Monfils who likes to socialise, and I think with his tennis as well and we talked about this last year, who was going to be handle this?”