AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 16, 2026

Gael Monfils

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Gael, welcome back in Melbourne. How do you feel like ahead of the tournament?

GAEL MONFILS: I feel great so far. Melbourne is always a nice place, a really great first slam of the year. I just feel great.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You know Kei Nishikori. You had a long rivalry for long years. He is 36 years old, and he had to be withdrew because of the injury for the Australian Open. I did interview with him in December, and he said how you in your career it's, like, ideal because you still won the tournament last season, you're healthy, and all the fans can see you. How do you think of Kei's situation not able to play at almost the end of his career?

GAEL MONFILS: I get actually hurt at 36 years old as well. Almost a year out. It's not easy. It's not the best. It's not ideal, but I'm sure that he's put in all the work to put himself in the position that he can play maybe a couple more years or one more year as well.

I know he's a hard worker. So definitely, you know, it will take even a bit more sacrifice. Then for me as a champion, he's a big champion. He's someone that changed the game, the way he's been playing, the way -- I mean, his legacy is big. So I have no doubt that if he wants to challenge himself, he will succeed.

Q. Can you talk about yourself, you know, getting to the last beginning of last season?

GAEL MONFILS: You know, I'm quite good. I'm quite good. It's a little bit different for me, because it's something that you can't learn and you cannot really predict in a way. So I'm in a learning process.

I think I'm quite happy with the people surrounding me and helping me to get through this new experience. So far it's okay.

Q. I'm writing an article about the new Master in Arabia for 2028. You are a huge reference of the tennis, especially for your career, your achievement. I just want to know, what are your thoughts about the plan that the ATP has for the next year to maybe give more space to the big tournaments and start to reduce the amount of the 250s? Do you think it's going to be something good for the players, maybe something good for the tradition or for the countries that only have, like, little tournaments? What are your thoughts about that change?

GAEL MONFILS: I didn't know so much on this. I knew it was the new one in Saudi Arabia, and I think it will be great, because they bring tennis to a new country. It's always great.

About the other one, I don't really know, so it's tough for me to answer.