Monfils and Serena to miss clay openers

 

Originally published on: 09/04/10 18:04

Following the news that Robin Soderling will not compete in his home tournament next week due to a knee injury, world No.18 Gael Monfils has become the latest player to pull out of the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters.

The Frenchman injured his left hand after a fall during his hard-fought Davis Cup victory over Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber on March 5.

In his one match since – at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells – Monfils managed to storm through the first set against Germany’s Simon Gruel to the loss of just one game, before clearly struggling with the injury and limply conceding the following sets 6-2 6-3.

But missing the opportunity to feature in Monte Carlo could be a blessing in disguise for the Frenchman.

The 23-year-old has had a regular run of bad luck at the first clay Masters 1000 event of the year, losing in the first round four times in the past five years.

Also absent for the tournament on Monday is Juan Martin del Potro, who has played just four matches this year after struggling with an ongoing wrist injury.

On the WTA Tour, Serena Williams will miss her planned 2010 clay court debut next week after she pulled out of the Family Circle Cup in Charleston with the knee injury that has sidelined her since the Australian Open.

Williams said that her knee “has not fully healed,” and the American joins fellow absentees Maria Sharapova (elbow) and 2009 champion Sabine Lisicki (ankle) on the sidelines.

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