Gael Monfils understands how Lucas Pouille felt during burnout period
French tennis star Gael Monfils understands how his fellow compatriot Lucas Pouille felt last year.
Pouille, 24, started the last season well but then his 2018 campaign ended up being a huge disappointment after his poor form resulted in a series of bad results.
After the season ended, the Frenchman admitted to dealing with a burnout problem.
However, Pouille was eager to detect all his problems, clear his head and enter 2019 with the right mindset.
Prior to the Davis Cup, the 24-year-old split with his long-time coach Emmanuel Planque.
The Frenchman then announced former world No. 1 Amelie Mauresmo as his new coach.
Pouille appears to be in a much better place now than he was last year as he reached his maiden Grand Slam semi-final at Melbourne Park this past January, before he lost to eventual champion Novak Djokovic.
32-year-old Monfils, an eight-time ATP champion and former world No. 6, had been dealing with similar problems at times during his career.
"For different reasons, I felt similar things. We don't do an easy job, because at times it becomes a job and not a sport. Mentally, it's hard. What had happened to him (Pouille) is understandable," Monfils exclusively told Le Parisien.
Both Monfils and Pouille are currently sidelined.
Monfils withdrew from this week Open 13 Provence in Marseille due to a wrist injury.
On the other side, a virus forced Pouille to miss last week's ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, as well as pull out of next week's Abierto Mexicano Telcel in Acapulco.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2XiwqsC
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