Tsitsipas and Monfils play “the first draw of tennis history” !

Stefanos Tsitsipas and Gael Monfils had a practice session together Tuesday, under the sun of the Mouratoglou Academy on the French Riviera

Stefanos Tsitsipas, Gael Monfils, Mouratoglou Academy

Stefanos Tsitsipas ans Gael Monfils, Mouratoglou Academy, August 2, 2022 | © Tennis Majors

Cédric Rouquette

August 2, 2022

If Stefanos Tsitsipas and Gael Monfils wanted to replicate the hot conditions they will face during the US swing, they succeeded. The Greek and the Frenchman practiced together on the Center Court of the Mouratoglou Academy, a few hours before they fly to the United States.

In Northern America, they are expected to play at Montreal (August 8-14) and Cincinnati (August 15-21) before the US Open, the final Grand Slam of the year (August 29. – September11).

The weather was so hot (more than 32 degrees of pure Sun) and the efforts so intense that the two men decided… not to finish the practice set they played.

Stefanos Tsitsipas practicing, August 2, 2022 — Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Mouratoglou Academy | © Tennis Majors

Tsitsipas – Monfils : 13-13, end of the game

With one break all, first Monfils and then Tsitsipas, they reached 6 games all. At 12 point all, Monfils had another set point after a powerful serve and a winner forehand. ” Stef, if you win this point, we pretend it’s a draw, don’t we? That’s the better solution to end it and finally go back home,” he said.

After an backhand in the net, Monfils was back on his chair at 13-13. He confirmed the he was serious with his assessment and checked with Apostolos Tsitsipas, Stefanos’s coach, who shouted that it was “the first draw in tennis history .”

The two men played more an one hour and a half, including warm-up time, at very high speed, not far from their best level nevertheless. Tsitsipas had a hard week of fitness with a peak in his charge on Monday. Monfils, ranked No 20 in the world, is improving day by day after two and a half months away from the ATP Tour due to a right foot injury.

Gaël Monfils practicing — Gaël Monfils, Mouratoglou Academy | © Tennis Majors

Tsitsipas with 810 points to defend

Monfils showed himself in a positive and happy mood during this public practice watched by around 150 people, Mouratoglou Academy staff members and young players. He also posed for several selfies and autographs before leaving with his pregnant wife Elina Svitolina, who watched the entire practice session.

Tsitsipas, one of the Mouratoglou Academy faces, spent 30 minutes of his time posing for pictures despite being visibly tired. The Greek, ranked No 5 in the world, has not played since he lost in the third round at Wimbledon to Nick Kyrgios a month ago. He has 810 of his 5000 points to defend during the next five weeks of tennis.