Monfils shrugs off injury to continue his comeback

Gael Monfils heeded the advice of an ATP trainer to carry on after a mid-match knee taping, securing a victory in his opening match on Tuesday at the Cincinnati Masters.

The French showman who has suffered for months off the Tour with knee problem recovery, needed a taping on his left knee after the seventh game of his match against Cameron Norrie.

Monfils played on and managed to turn the tables on the Brit for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 come-from-behind victory.

The win in just over two hours kept the Monfils momentum going after his Toronto quarter-final last week where he lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner.

Monfils was helped by 41 unforced errors from No 15 Norrie, who joined Andy Murray (injury pullout) and Dan Evans on the sidelines here.

“I was quite upset with my knee, but the ATP physio helped me a lot,” Monfils said. “I could push off on it and he told me I could not do any damage; he secured my head.

“It gave me confidence and I knew everything was possible.”

Monfils added: “I’m getting better, playing and having fun. “I believed more and here I am – I won the match. 

“I just tried to keep things simple in my game. I was calmer and did what I wanted to do on court.”  

The rush to the exits began with the withdrawal of Andy Murray due to an existing abdominal injury dating to last week in Toronto.

Meanwhile on court, Lorenzo Musetti defeated Dan Evans 6-4, 6-3 before Monfils staged his comeback victory against British number one Norrie in late afternoon.