Gael Monfils rues injury issues after Dominic Thiem loss at ATP World Tour Finals
Tuesday 15 November 2016 18:36, UK
Gael Monfils admitted he is not fully fit after losing 6-3 1-6 6-4 to Dominic Thiem at the ATP World Tour Finals.
The Frenchman, who pulled out of the Paris Masters earlier this month with a rib injury, looked to be struggling physically at times as he was beaten by Thiem.
Monfils did not chase a ball down the middle of the court at the end of the first set and stretched during changes of ends.
He has now lost both of his matches in London and his chances of making the semi-finals are slim.
Asked how he would prepare for his next match against Novak Djokovic, he said: "Still the same thing. Try to recover because obviously I'm not good enough to play back-to-back. So hopefully, I'll be much better.
"It was a tough one. Dominic was better than me. I think I didn't play a great match, but I gave everything I had."
Despite admitting he was not 100 per cent, Monfils fought back well after dropping the opening set.
But Thiem, who lost his opening match to Djokovic after winning the first set, managed to hold out for victory this time.
Live Tennis: ATP World Tour Finals
"I tried to avoid the mistake I did in the first match: to drop a little bit," he said. "Didn't really happen that well, but I was trying to stay tough in the third set.
"At the end, of course, he helped me a little bit with the three double faults. But I'm very happy with the win."
Watch every day of the ATP World Tour Finals, from November 13-20, live on Sky Sports. Full schedule here.
