Gael Monfils Overcomes Injury for Dramatic Roland Garros Comeback

PARIS, France — Gael Monfils displayed remarkable resilience Tuesday during his first-round match at Roland Garros, overcoming an early injury to secure a thrilling comeback against Hugo Dellien. The match marked Monfils’ first two-sets-to-love comeback since 2015.

The 38-year-old Frenchman tripped during the fifth point of the match, crashing into the sidewall and hitting his right knee against a billboard. He grimaced in pain, and the chair umpire paused play to assess the situation. Fans within Court Philippe-Chatrier held their breath as Monfils received treatment and a medical timeout.

Despite dropping the first two sets, 4-6, 3-6, Monfils rallied back, showcasing his vintage style of play to win the match 4-6, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(4), 6-1. This victory also marked Monfils’ 40th win at the clay-court major, tying him with Yannick Noah for the most match victories at Roland Garros among Frenchmen in the Open Era.

“This match was all about fighting spirit,” Monfils said after the match. “I felt the support from the crowd, and it pushed me to keep going.” His impressive performance included a strong showing in the fifth set, where he took a quick 5-0 lead, closing out the match in three hours and 35 minutes.

Monfils will face fifth seed Jack Draper in the next round, continuing his journey at his home Grand Slam. Monfils has improved to a 17-7 record for the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.