NATIONAL BANK OPEN

July 27, 2025

Gael Monfils

Press Conference

T. BARRIOS VERA/G. Monfils

6-4, 4-6, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Gael, tough luck today. Do you have any regrets on any of those match points you missed?

GAEL MONFILS: Yeah, maybe one, of course, I could have maybe played a little bit better. But then the other ones it felt like he played them quite well.

Q. I wanted to ask you, as you were leaving the court you reached down and touched the baseline.

GAEL MONFILS: It was the last time I play in Toronto, for sure, yeah.

Q. So if you could just explain a little bit about that moment.

GAEL MONFILS: There's no explanation, you know, it's the last one. It will be two years to play in Toronto, so pretty much I won't be able to play it. Obviously I think the next one is too old for me, so I think it was the last time I play here.

So, you know, I actually thought at the end, and I was like, Well, I think it's, unfortunately, but the last time I think I would play here.

Q. If that's the case, can you talk maybe about one of your favorite memories of playing here in Canada, of course having success both in Montreal and Toronto?

GAEL MONFILS: In Toronto, I think I played a semi final here, had a great year here, great run. I remember a great match against Milos, a few other great matches here. Even two years ago I played quarterfinal with Jannik, it was a quite high level. But then it was too far. I remember I think I played Radek Stepanek, it was quite fun.

I mean, I had fun matches in Toronto since I played here. So, it's something, but at the end of the day, you know, it is natural and normal.

Q. After a loss like today what's the outlook for you for the rest of the hard court season, the rest of the season going forward?

GAEL MONFILS: Not much. For me it's, again, without taking credit from my opponent, but again a bad match from my side, not the quality that I want, not the level that I want to perform. So again, watch it again, try to work hard, even though I do, but to feel this winning trick back a little bit and, yeah, try to still believe, and then keep your head up, even though it's not easy, but I will try my best.

Q. I just wanted to get your thoughts, this is the first time this event has been two weeks, and obviously Cincinnati will be two weeks as well. Is this a format you think you prefer and you think something that can stick around for the game, or did you prefer the one-week format before?

GAEL MONFILS: It's not easy to answer because there are some good part and some bad part. So, you know, to be fair, I'm not in the best mood to answer your question now. But to be honest, it's not like, you know, it's tough to answer, because there is some good part, there is some bad part. I feel like you should ask the youngsters, because they will play it a lot more than me, that's for sure.