Tenth-seed Gael Monfils of France has responded in detail on the criticism thrown to him by ESPN analyst and former tennis player John McEnroe. Monfils said that he’s “very sad” to know that he’s been branded as “borderline unprofessional” by the former top-ranked and multiple Grand Slam champion. McEnroe was commentating on the US Open semifinal match between Monfils and world number one Novak Djokovic with the latter winning in four sets.
“I like John. I think he’s a great person,” Monfils said. “I mean, I have nothing personal to him, so I’m very sad to heard that. I’m very sad to learn that such a legend criticize me, because at the end what I can say to John is, you know, John, I want to be the best. It’s tough, you know. And I try my best.”
“I’m sorry if you think I’m unprofessional, but I guess I’m working, I’m learning, you know. I think I’m failing, for sure, a lot, but I try to stand up,” Monfils said. “It’s tough, because when he call me unprofessional he calls my coach unprofessional, calls my physio unprofessional, calls my physic, all my team, actually, unprofessional. Is a bit tough, you know. And he knows what it is.
“I’m more than happy to talk with him, you know. For sure, you know, it’s easy to punish me because I not win anything, you know. Such an easy thing. I do different stuff. I’m happy. I’m always with a smile. I make it easy. But I think John knows that if I want to be in the semifinal of the slam, anything he can say, if I not play top seed or whatever, you know, I won couple matches and I have been trained hard.”
“And then it’s tough, you know, tweeting during the match saying, and maybe John McEnroe say such a disgrace,” Monfils said. “At the end, you know, if I have a mic, I would say to the audience that stop saying that, you know, I’m unprofessional. The guy is killing me, you know.
“I’m just embracing the fact the guy is too good for me, and I try to switch strategy. Then somehow, you know, I had this small opportunity and I get it, and then I think the crowd was much better.”
Monfils good friend – two-time Grand Slam champion Viktoria Azarenka defended him on Twitter:
Something is wrong, I have never seen him like this! Breaks my heart, he is such a great player and person https://t.co/xR9WKwubpo
— victoria azarenka (@vika7) September 9, 2016
