“I think the sport needs him” – Jannik Sinner wants Gael Monfils to keep going

Jannik Sinner might want to take it easy on his heroes. The Italian refused to give up ground against Gael Monfils on Thursday in Rotterdam, defeating the magical, mystical “Lamonf” in three sets (6-3, 3-6, 6-3), but he wanted to make it clear after his victory: he doesn’t want to send to 37-year-old Frenchman to an early retirement.

“I think he’s an incredible showman,” Sinner said, after improving to 5-1 lifetime against Monfils. “I think all the crowds love him, and I think that’s what this sport needs.”

Like so many of us, Sinner says he doesn’t want to see Monfils go.

“It’s going to be very tough when he announces his retirement, I wish he will keep going as long as possible and hopefully I can share the court with him as many times as possible because he is such an amazing player,” the 22-year-old Italian said.

Adding to the Monfils allure? He’s not just an incredible showman on the tennis court, he’s just a genuinely kind human being. Sinner says that the moment he arrived on tour he could appreciate the way that Monfils treated others on tour.

“When I came to the tour he was always nice from the beginning, and I think that’s also something to admire,” he said. “I think the sport needs him.” 

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