Gael Monfils bizarrely disqualified from exhibition as Lucas Pouille replaces compatriot at Ultimate Tennis Showdown in Oslo
ATPSunday, 11 February 2024 at 11:49
Gael Monfils was bizarrely disqualified from the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in Oslo on Friday night after displaying behaviour which was not in line with tournament rules with a code of conduct violation stemming from his behaviour towards the tournament supervisor.
Being played between February 9-11, 2024, the Ultimate Tennis Showdown returns in Oslo with the Patrick Mouratoglou concept seeing players compete over quarters instead of games and sets and there are cards available to use to impact the play. This makes the disqualification that more bizarre.
On the opening day of action in Oslo, Holger Rune overpowered Dominic Thiem in sudden death. But it was Monfils' display that was the most interesting.. He lost to Alex de Minaur 12-15, 8-17, 9-16 and it wasn't a terribly competitive affair. Monfils has history too of drawing the ire of the umpire as he requested a medical timeout at the UTS Grand Final in London which is something that is not allowed in the format.
This time though albeit the camera was inside the locker room looking at Lucas Pouille getting ready, Monfils walked off court to the PA system saying he'd been disqualified with no clear show or indication as to what happened. As a result, he was disqualified with Pouille replacing him also known as 'The French Flair'. Utterly bizarre.
Samuel GillEditor-in-Chief
Samuel Gill is the Chief Content Officer (CCO) of TennisUpToDate.com, a role he has held since 2020. He is responsible for editorial governance across the platform, including setting content standards, overseeing accuracy and consistency, and guiding long-term editorial strategy. Since joining, he has contributed more than 10,000 articles and editorial pieces across the TennisUpToDate network, playing a central role in the daily operation and development of the site.
Based in Leicester, Samuel has a broad background in tennis media. In his current role, he works closely with editors and writers to ensure coverage meets clear journalistic standards, with particular attention to verification, consistency, and timely updates when new information becomes available.
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