Frenchman Gaël Monfils announced on Saturday in an interview with
Canal Plus
his package for the Australian Open, the first round of the 2023 Grand Slam, from January 16 to 29.
This is a thoughtful choice on the part of the current French number 4 (and 52nd in the world) who wishes to skip the Melbourne tournament in order to benefit from a "
protected classification
" next season.
To discover
Australian Open: men's schedule and results
Australian Open: ladies schedule and results
“
There is this protected ranking, when you haven't played for a certain number of months
,” he told
Canal Plus
.
“
I know that if I take it, I will have to miss the Australian Open in order to complete my six months.
It's going to be my decision
."
The 36-year-old Parisian has been absent from the ATP circuit since the Masters 1000 in Montreal and his retirement in the third round against Briton Jack Draper.
The protected classification allows a player absent from the circuit for six months in a row to line up for tournaments when his real classification should not allow it.
