Tennis analyst Gill Gross has weighed in on the dispute between
Gael Monfils and
Felix Auger-Aliassime at the
Laver Cup, revealing which player he agreed with.
The French player faced World No. 15 Auger-Aliassime as part of Team Europe and Team World's battle in Vancouver at the end of September. The Canadian helped Team World to their landslide 13-2 victory by defeating Monfils 6-4, 6-3.
However, their encounter, in particular, was remembered for a disagreement that occurred mid-match when Auger-Aliassime complained that Monfils was taking too long between points, to which the 37-year-old responded by accusing the 23-year-old of taking the tournament too seriously.
Gross says Monfils knew why he was there
In a recent episode of the Monday Match Analysis podcast, tennis analyst Gross made his opinion on the argument clear as he sided with Monfils, saying that the World No. 141 knew he was there to entertain as otherwise Team Europe would have chosen a higher-ranked player.
"Ultimately I was kinda on his [Monfils'] side if I have to take sides based on what happened. Put yourself in Gael Monfils' shoes. Here you are, you're not even a top 100 player and you're invited to the Laver Cup.
"If you're Monfils, you know why you got invited. You didn't get invited to the Laver Cup because you give Team Europe the best chance to win. They could've found a better player, I'm sorry, Gael knows that, he even said that," Gross explained.
Monfils is often regarded as one of the best entertainers on the
ATP Tour, getting the crowds involved and providing a fun and memorable match.
"So when they say 'Gael we want you to come play for Team Europe', Monfils understands the assignment. He is getting that invitation because he is one of the great entertainers in the history of tennis.
"So he shows up to the Laver Cup, understanding very well what they want him to do, even if they didn't say anything. He understands that, otherwise, he wouldn't be there. So that's why Monfils was having fun with it," Gross continued.
Although Auger-Aliassime and Monfils are still on good terms, the French player has responded to those accusing him of not being serious in the wake of the Laver Cup dispute.
"I am tired of these incessant and futile controversies. Some people seem to get excited over trifles. I am annoyed by those who make hasty judgments. Some might think that because I smile and have fun, I'm not serious. Sure, my vision may be different, but I always strive to follow the guidelines given to me," he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
