Rafael Nadal isn’t the only player dealing with knee problems. Gael Monfils – remember him? – is making his return from right knee issues. The elastic Monfils who missed the entire summer spanning three Grand Slams and the Olympics, says he’s back to fit.

“I’m good. I am fit. My knee is fine. All good,” Monfils said in Doha.

However, like Nadal who’s style takes a toll on his knee, Monfils’ on-court acrobatics will continue to pressure his frail body. And some suggest at 26 time has passed.

“First, for myself it’s just to enjoy on the court,” Monfils said. “When you’re injured, you’re not a tennis player anymore. You’re just someone try to get healthy quick. When you choose to be back on the court, it’s because you 100%. If not, there is no point to come back. You know, for me if I’m here it’s because I feel 100% and I’m ready to give my best and ready, you know, to challenge myself to try to be back at my top level.”

After years embedded in the Top 20 and once the 7th-ranked player in the world in 2011, Monfils has crashed to a current level of No. 77.

“The start of the season would be very hard for me because I need to get in matches for confidence, and I feel I’m back, like definitely back week after week,” he added. “So it will be easier to say after a couple of weeks, but I know I can be a very good tennis player. I have been in the top 10, so for sure I want to come back there. Honestly I want to play for 7. Then I would say that would be my potential, like I will see what is my potential.”

During the off-season he split with his coach Patrick Chamagne and physio.

Monfils is making his 2013 at the moment against a local wildcard player.

Filed under: 2013 Season
Tags: Gael Monfils