Gael Monfils Still Having Knee Problems According To Leconte

Written by: Staff on 10th December 2012

Gael Monfils Still Having Knee Problems According To Leconte |

Just a year ago French tennis icon Henri Leconte was talking in humorous terms about the possibilities of coaching his compatriot Gael Monfils after he finished in the world’s top 20 for the fourth consecutive season and spent most of 2011 inside the top ten.

Now Leconte is deadly serious about Monfils, who is ranked a lowly 77th after missing four months of the 2012 schedule with a knee problem, and concerned the 26 year-old former junior world no.1 is contemplating retirement.

“Gael is completely lost at the moment and doesn’t know what to do,” said Leconte, speaking during his time in London, contesting the Statoil Masters at the Royal Albert Hall. “Maybe he’s going to stop playing tennis, you never know for sure. I hope not.

“He has a strange way of training, thinking about sports, about his life, his entourage, his everything. It’s a nightmare. He doesn’t know where to go. He’s lost.”

Leconte remains a complex character and while often acting the clown on court, goes through deep introspective moods away from it. However he was also fiercely committed to being a tennis player and battled back from what many believed was career ending back surgery to star in France’s historic Davis Cup final win against the United States in Lyon, overcoming Pete Sampras in straight sets and then teaming up with Guy Forget to beat Ken Flach and Robert Seguso in the doubles.

Unfortunately, according to Leconte, Monfils does possess the same consistency of commitment. “One day Gael wants to be a tennis player, the next day he wants to be a soccer player, and then the day after that he wants to be a basketball player,” said the 49 year-old veteran.

Leconte pinpoints the breaking up with former coach Roger Rasheed – now with leading Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, as crucial and maintained : “Gael’s losing time. He could be in the top ten easily – if he works. He’s been lost for two years. It’s a shame, because he’s so talented.”

©Dailuy Tennis News Wire

Topics: French tennis news, Gael Monfils, Henri Leconte, Tennis, tennis injuries, Tennis News