Tennis: winning return for Gaël Monfils in Montreal

He did not miss his reunion with the circuit.

Three months after his last match, the French N.1 Gaël Monfils, 20th player in the world, signed a winning return on Tuesday, dismissing the Spaniard Pedro Martinez (53rd) 7-6 (7/4), 3-6, 6-2 in the first round of the Masters 1000 in Montreal.

 I'm happy because for a first match, it was okay, explains the tricolor.

In fact, it makes me feel weird because I don't have a lot of training behind me.

I am more ready physically than tennistically.

I almost didn't come to Montreal due to personal problems (Editor's note: his wife, Ukrainian Elina Svitolina is expecting a child), and finally I made the decision at the last moment.

I do not regret it.

I hope to win another game or two so that I can build up confidence. 

Monfils, 35, with a right heel injury, hadn't appeared on court since his Madrid Masters 1000 second-round loss to Novak Djokovic in May, before giving up on playing Roland-Garros and Wimbledon.

After a first round interrupted by rain and concluded in 1h30, Monfils gave up the second set.

He revived perfectly in the final round by breaking the Spaniard at 2-2, then unfolding in the last games to seal his first success since May 1 in 2:45.

It's already over for Paire, Bonzi and Gaston,

In the second round, Monfils will face the American-French Maxime Cressy (25, 31st), in form after his first title obtained in July at the grass tournament in Newport.

In case of victory, Monfils could meet the world No.5 Stefanos Tsitsipas in the 3rd round.

The Parisian had made a convincing start to the season by winning in Adelaide and advancing to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.

However, the first round of the Masters 1000 in Montreal did not go well for all the Habs.

Benoît Paire was beaten 2-6, 3-6 by the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka and Benjamin Bonzi lost 7-6 (8/6), 5-7, 3-6 against the American Frances Tiafoe.

Hugo Gaston was also beaten 2-6, 3-6 by Briton Jack Draper.

Adrian Mannarino won 6-3, 6-3 against Arthur Rinderknech in a Franco-French duel.