Tennis: three days after his victory, Gaël Monfils gives up in the second tournament of Adelaide

A precaution or a real concern before the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, the Australian Open, which starts in less than a week in Melbourne?

At the start of the third set (7-6, 3-6, 0-1), Gaël Monfils preferred to abandon this Wednesday during the second round of the Adelaide bis tournament against the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro who will meet the French Corentin Moutet in the quarterfinal final.

Visibly affected in the neck, the Habs had already been massaged by the physiotherapist in the second set. After a convincing start to the match, the 35-year-old Parisian lost his footing before abandoning the game after being broken at the start of the third set. This is his 22nd retirement in full meeting since the start of his professional career. He will therefore not follow up with a second title in Adelaide after that of last week where he beat the Russian Karen Khachanov in the final (6-4, 6-4).

Thanks to his victory in the Adelaide 1 tournament, Monfils returned to the Top 20 of the ATP ranking, published on Monday, by gaining two places and now occupying the 19th place.

He will benefit from seeded status (number 17) at the Australian Open (January 17-30).

just like another Frenchman, Ugo Humbert (number 29).

Novak Djokovic is, still announced as the seeded No.1 as the Australian authorities must decide in the coming days on the possible cancellation of his visa and his deportation, after a resounding episode where the champion spent several days in detention center for migrants.