Insolite - Monfils admits he's very comfortable with defeat: "When I lose a match, I don't mind".
Gaël Monfils got his Roland Garros tournament off to a flying start, defeating Thiago Seyboth Wild on Monday (6-2, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4) in a rather convincing match in which he dictated play (35 winners, 30 unforced errors, 6 aces).
This victory brings to mind one of the curious anecdotes recently revealed by Monfil. On the UT talk show, the Frenchman confided that he didn't take his defeats on the tennis court too badly.
Invited alongside his compatriots Jérémy Chardy and Ugo Humbert, 'La Monf' spoke out on the subject. In surprising remarks, he explains: "It's funny what I'm going to say, I'm very competitive, but on the other hand, as much as in life I hate losing, like in belote, when I lose a match, I don't mind.
When I say I don't mind, I mean, when I lose a big match, I'm going to mind at first, but very quickly, I'm fine. It goes by very quickly, maybe too quickly. I'm not happy, but it's okay."
One thing's for sure: the French public will be hoping he doesn't have to accept defeat just yet. Next up for him in the 2nd round is a duel against the talented Lorenzo Musetti (30th).
French Open 
