Gael Monfils hit back at angry bettors who flooded his social media with abuse after his loss in the first round of the Stuttgart Open. The 38-year-old was the underdog in his match against Alex Michelsen, the No. 7 seed, but put up a good performance before losing 6-4 4-6 6-3.
The loss didn’t sit well with some of the punters and they decided to abuse Monfils on social media, with some even saying that they wished that he suffered a leg break or a career-ending injury. The Frenchman decided to go at the trolls in an Instagram story and launched a scathing rant on the bettors. Monfils said in hilarious fashion he knew he was ‘s**t’ and yet people decided to bet on him and questioned their wisdom.
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“Hey guys, it’s not financial advice, but really, you’re still betting on me? First tournament on grass, I play Alex Michelsen, 20 years old, and you wanna bet on me?” Monfils started.
“You are writing that I’m s**t. I know I’m s**t. We both know I’m s**t and you still bet on me? Who is the dumbest between you and me, to be honest? No, come on.”
“By the way, my legs already cracked many times. I’ve played with a broken leg already. So don’t pray for that, but the thing is, I’m not suffering, sorry!”
Monfils also brought out the racial abuse bit and asked what does his skin colour have to do with his performance. The Frenchman claimed that he knows he is pretty as his mother and wife Elina Svitolina have told him the same.
“Again, I’m going to mention it, we are in 2025 and you give me the skin colour. What does my skin colour have to do with my tennis performance?
“I know I look pretty. I mean, I say that because my mom and my wife tell me I look pretty. Maybe I look really awful for you. Open some books, do something. This time, you know with skin colour, you know it’s finished, vanish it from your mind.
“Of course, if you want to look a little bit like me, yes, stay a little bit in the sun. Please use some sunscreen, you know, for protection. I mean, I have to help you with that. And open some books, please.”
‘Leave the family away’
Monfils also told the trolls to keep his family out of their rage and just come at him only.
“Also guys, things on family, come on, leave the family away. It’s just me, you know,” he continued.
“My mum, my wife, no one has to come on that. It’s just me. If you want to put your rage on someone, just me, don’t pray for someone else. It’s better. I mean, although if you add people, karma will be really bad. Trust me.”
Monfils recently made it to the second round of the French Open.
