Gael Monfils shows true colours in private chat with Australian Open conqueror Ben Shelton

Gael Monfils was forced to retire while playing Ben Shelton

Ben Shelton has shared what Gael Monfils is really like after their Australian Open fourth-round clash. The 38-year-old Frenchman was forced to retire from their match on Monday while trailing by two sets to one. Afterwards, Shelton opened up on a private chat he shared with the former world No. 6.

Monfils has been enjoying a resurgent start to the season. He picked up his 13th career title in Auckland and stormed into the second week of the Australian Open, upsetting No. 4 seed Taylor Fritz en route.

But all the tennis caught up with him on Monday, and he was forced to retire from his match with Shelton while the American was leading 7-6(3) 6-7(3) 7-6(2) 1-0. It was all love between the pair at the net as Monfils hugged Shelton before embracing his rival’s father and coach, Bryan. After reaching his third Grand Slam quarter-final, Shelton admitted that it was tough to see Monfils bow out via retirement as he shed light on their off-court relationship.

Ben Shelton shared the pep talks he received from Gael Monfils

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“It's always tough. The little kid in me always wants to see Gael win. I always want to see him hit the highlight shot and trick shot,” the 22-year-old said. Shelton also revealed that Monfils spoke with him privately earlier in his career during a tough stretch where he was struggling to get out of the early rounds of tournaments. He continued: “Gael has given me a few pep talks over the last few years, at certain times whether I was playing great and doing great and playing a lot, or maybe it was that 2023 run where I lost a lot of matches in a row or lost early in a lot of tournaments in a row. “He said to me, it was important for him in his career that he found the places that he loved to play, and he focused on those weeks and doing really well in those weeks and knowing there are places that he doesn't love to play and not stressing as much.”

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