"They need to enjoy, love the sport": Gael Monfils shares heartfelt message with younger generation of tennis

French veteran tennis star Gael Monfils has shared a heartfelt message with young players.

The 37-year-old is slowly but surely moving towards the end of his career at the highest level.

Monfils, who has been pretty vocal about considering retiring in the near future to spend more time with his family, shared a heartfelt message for the younger players to enjoy the sport more than anything else.

“They need to enjoy, love the sport,” he said. “Play with friends, enjoy competing.. it’s not always about being super serious when you’re very young. It’s about exploring yourself. Enjoy. You’re only young once.”

Monfils recently took part in the Vienna Open where his journey was cut short as he suffered a defeat in the round of 16 to America’s Frances Tiafoe with a score of 5-7, 6-1, 6-4 on Thursday.

Overall. 2023 was not a great year for the Paris-born, especially while playing in the Grand Slams.

Monfils only managed to play in two out of the four major events in the calendar year and failed to reach third or beyond in both events.

He retired from the second round of the French Open tie because of a fitness concern where he was due to face Denmark’s Holger Rune.

Later, in the US Open, Monfils lost in the round of 64 clash to Russia’s Andrey Rublev with a score of 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1.