“I don’t want to play anymore” – Gael Monfils engages in heated exchange with chair umpire after receiving time violation in US Open 2R vs Casper Ruud
What specific aspect of Monfils’ reaction or the incident are you interested in exploring further?
Gael Monfils advanced to the second round with a four-set victory over Diego Schwartzman, while 2022 US Open runner-up Casper Ruud secured his place with a straight-set win against qualifier Bu Yunchaokete.
This article highlights a dramatic match between Gael Monfils and Casper Ruud at the 2024 US Open. Monfils, who was struggling early in the match, found himself down two sets to love but managed to fight back and win the third set. During the match, Monfils faced disciplinary issues with the chair umpire, leading to a heated confrontation and a code violation. Despite these challenges, Monfils managed to stay focused and was leading in the fourth set when play was suspended due to an electrical storm.
The article also references a previous incident at the 2023 Laver Cup, where Monfils had a spat with Felix Auger-Aliassime over time-wasting accusations. Monfils’ response to the incident revealed his frustration with the event’s expectations. If he wins his current match against Ruud, Monfils will advance to face Shang Juncheng in the third round of the tournament.
Throughout the first and second sets, Monfils changed bandages and his shirt frequently, prompting the chair umpire to issue multiple warnings. At the beginning of the third set, Monfils, needing to win to stay in the match, spoke with his team, which led to further issues with the chair umpire.
This did not go down well with the chair umpire, who, having lost patience with Monfils, issued a code violation. Enraged, Monfils confronted the chair umpire, called the supervisor to the court, and expressed his desire to stop playing.
“I don’t want to play anymore; he (the chair umpire) took away my motivation. I’m correct all the time,” Monfils told the supervisor. Despite his frustration, Monfils continued and turned the match around, winning the third set 6-2. The match was later suspended due to an electrical storm with Monfils leading Ruud 4-3 in the fourth set.
Monfils, known for his entertaining and positive demeanor, has had similar outbursts before, such as at the 2023 Laver Cup. During that event, he was accused of time-wasting by Felix Auger-Aliassime and felt misled about the tournament’s expectations. If Monfils defeats Ruud, he will face Shang Juncheng in the third round of the 2024 US Open.
At the 2023 Laver Cup, Gael Monfils had a disagreement with Felix Auger-Aliassime. Auger-Aliassime accused Monfils of time-wasting, which led to tension between the players. Monfils expressed his frustration to Team Europe captain Bjorn Borg, indicating that he felt misled about the event’s expectations regarding player freedom.
Gael Monfils had a spat with colleague Felix Auger-Aliassime at Laver Cup 2023
Gael Monfils (Source: Getty)
Monfils is known for being an entertaining player who usually maintains a positive demeanor during matches. However, there have been instances where he has lost his cool, such as his outburst at the chair umpire during the 2024 US Open. A similar situation occurred at the 2023 Laver Cup, where Monfils had a heated exchange with Felix Auger-Aliassime over accusations of time-wasting.
At the time, Monfils, representing Team Europe, was accused of time-wasting by Felix Auger-Aliassime of Team World. Auger-Aliassime also criticized the chair umpire for not issuing a time violation to Monfils.
Later, Monfils was heard telling Team Europe captain Bjorn Borg that he had been led to believe that players would have more freedom at the Laver Cup when he was invited to the event.
Monfils told Borg, “Honestly, I don’t have the practice to play. If I don’t want to play a tournament, I don’t play a tournament, you know what I mean? They called me and told me how the Laver Cup would be so nice and that we could be free. And then I felt like, [this sucks?] because it hurt him, you know, it hurt him.
And I don’t want to hurt him.”
If Gael Monfils defeats Casper Ruud, he will advance to face Shang Juncheng in the third round of the 2024 US Open.
