CINCINNATI: Frenchman Gael Monfils was accused of not trying his best by former US women's singles star Tracy Austin on Monday after crashing out in the first round of the ATP and WTA Cincinnati Masters.
Austin, commentating for the Tennis Channel, accused Monfils of playing fast and loose with little regard for the score as he bowed out 6-4, 7-5 to Poland's Jerzy Janowicz in an hour and a quarter.
"To not give 100 percent and be so blatant about it, I think it's disrespectful," said the teenaged Grand Slam winner of three decades ago.
"It looked like exhibition tennis. We've seen that way too many times with him. With Gael it's so difficult to watch because you know his upside ceiling could be so big but he just goes away and doesn't even try."
The loss came a week after the number 16 was defeated in the Montreal second round by Gilles Muller in three sets after Monfils put out Fabio Fognini with the loss of just four games in the first round in Canada.
The main complaint against Monfils was a rapid-fire serving speed which barely allowed ballboys to get into position between the end of one point and the start of the next.
During one rally, Monfils turned his back on Janowicz before losing the exchange.
Monfils has made his name in tennis with a playful nature which can produce stunning shot-making in one moment and cringing errors in another.
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