Gael Monfils and Grigor Dimitrov’s suspended game incident, love letter, John McEnroe rows
Gael Monfils and Grigor Dimitrov have enjoyed a long history in tennis together – which has even seen them share a love letter. The Frenchman has enjoyed a 21-year professional career in the sport where’s routinely been regarded as the most entertaining player on the ATP Tour. The Bulgarian – who entered the professional circuit in 2007 and was given the nickname of ‘Baby Fed’ due to the similarlity of his play to Roger Federer has remained a consistent player for over 15 years.
The duo have enjoyed a close friendship during their time in the sport which has also inevitably seen them battle each other on the court with Monfils, 38, possessing a 4-2 record against the 33-year-old. Dimitrov has the opportunity to claim a third career win against his friend when they face each other on Tuesday in the Round of 32 of the Indian Wells Masters.
The winner of their match will take on the winner of Carlos Alcaraz vs Denis Shapovalov, with the Spaniard currently the reigning tournament champion. Ahead of their tasty encounter, Express Sport looks back at their decade-plus long friendship, previous matches and how they both faced the wrath of seven-time Grand Slam champion-turned commentator John McEnroe.
The American certainly isn’t afraid to speak his mind and he did just that when picking apart Monfils’ performance against Novak Djokovic in the US Open semi-finals in 2016. The Frenchman – who was 0-12 against the Serbian at the time – appeared at times to hit the ball with not his usual fervour, leading McEnroe to question his professionalism and say on the broadcast: “You can’t support that.”
Monfils turned it up a notch during the match and fought back from two sets down to force a fourth set but ending up losing 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-2. Following his loss, Monfils admitted that he was deeply hurt by McEnroe’s questioning of his professionalism. “I’m very sad to learn that such a legend criticised me,” he said. “At the end what I can say to John is, you know John, I want to be the best. It’s tough, you know. I try my best. I’m sorry if you think I’m unprofessional but I guess I’m working, I’m learning.
Dimitrov also faced the searing words of the tennis icon after his disastrous performance to Andy Murray in the 2016 US Open quarter-final. The Bulgarian was easily bested 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 by the Brit and admitted that he made a ton of mistakes in the match. McEnroe pulled no punches about Dimitrov’s showing, or lack thereof, as he slammed the tennis star: “He didn’t show any heart, any willingness to dig in and try to battle.”
Despite having competed at the Rolex Paris Masters in 2023, the tennis duo were able to squeeze in time for an off-the-court competition when they participated in the Lexus ATP Head2Head Scavenger Hunt. After working through the treasure hunt, Dimitrov penned a love letter to Monfils emotional enough to make some weep.
The Bulgarian’s message read: “Dear Gael, So they say love is a bad thing to have in tennis, but this is all I have for you. You won today, but what can I do? I cannot possibly stay mad at you. All my love, G”.
The duo last shared the court against each other at Wimbledon last year where Dimitrov earned a straight sets victory of 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 against Monfils but it wasn’t without drama. Their match had to be temporarily suspended after the Frenchman slid into a line judge when attempting to return a forehand from his opponent.
While the line judge remained unhurt, Monfils remained on the turf as he writhed in pain while holding his left knee. The Paris native had suffered with injuries for the past two years with fans left worried about his well-being as a physio made their way onto the court to help Monfils. Thankfully, he was able to continue the match but couldn’t do enough to stop Dimitrov earning the win at the All England Club.
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It hasn’t been all negative from McEnroe who offered up heavy praise to both players recently. During the 2024 edition of the US Open, Alcaraz and Djokovic were heavy favourites for the crown at Flushing Meadows but the New Yorker claimed not to sleep on Dimitrov’s chances of claiming his maiden Grand Slam.
While he’s yet to reach a major final in his career, McEnroe said that the 33-year-old “has a lot to be proud of” and admitted that while he may be past his prime, he remains a dangerous out for any player in the tournament. “Winning a major at this point would be a big ask, but I think he’s still dangerous,” the American said.
Monfils is another who hasn’t played in a Grand Slam final but his style of play, remarkable athleticism, and tremendous popularity saw McEnroe hail the Frenchman as “one of the three most talented guys never to win a major”. His comments came after the 38-year-old claimed a Australian Open upset victory over Taylor Fritz earlier this year.
“I can’t believe Monfils is playing this well this late in his career,” a surprised McEnroe said. “But to me he’s one of the three most talented guys never to win a major. Him, [Nick] Kyrgios and [Alexander] Zverev, to me, are the three most (talented) and he’s played as if he believes he has a shot. I can’t believe he’s playing this well this late.”
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Gael Monfils and Grigor Dimitrov will clash once again on the tennis court when they meet in the Round of 32 at the Indian Wells Masters.
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ATP Indian Wells Day 4 Predictions Including Gael Monfils Vs Sebastian Korda
Day 4 at the ATP BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells features a fascinating mix of experience and rising talent, with several matchups that could go either way. Gael Monfils looks to continue his strong form against a returning Sebastian Korda, while Alex de Minaur aims to keep his hot streak alive against the veteran David Goffin. Felix Auger-Aliassime, one of the best performers of 2025 so far, faces the crafty Jenson Brooksby in a battle of contrasting styles, and Karen Khachanov will need to shake off his recent struggles to avoid an upset against teenage sensation Jakub Mensik. With conditions in the desert often playing a key role, these matchups promise plenty of intrigue. Who will battle through and secure their place in the next round?
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Alex de Minaur has been one of the most in-form players on tour, consistently proving his ability to grind down opponents with relentless defense and counterpunching. The conditions at Indian Wells should only enhance his strengths, making it even harder for David Goffin to hit through him. Goffin, while experienced, has struggled with consistency in recent seasons and hasn’t shown the level needed to trouble top players. Expect de Minaur to dictate with his superior movement and intensity, likely securing a straight-sets win.
Prediction: De Minaur in 2
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Felix Auger-Aliassime has been one of the most consistent performers on tour in 2025, with deep runs in several events showcasing his improved shot selection and mental resilience. His powerful baseline game and strong serve should allow him to take control of points against Jenson Brooksby, who relies on his disruptive, counterpunching style to frustrate opponents. While Brooksby looked sharp in his first-round win, he’s still adjusting to tour-level competition after a long layoff, and Indian Wells’ conditions may not give him the easy errors he thrives on. If Auger-Aliassime maintains his recent level, he should be able to dictate play and secure a hard-fought win.
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Head-to-Head: Khachanov 1-0 Mensik
Karen Khachanov has struggled to find his best form in 2025, with early exits in several tournaments and a lack of consistency in key moments. His powerful baseline game can still be effective in Indian Wells’ conditions, but he’ll need to raise his level against Jakub Mensik, a rising star who has already proven his ability to compete with top players. Mensik’s combination of big serving and aggressive shot-making could trouble Khachanov, especially if the Russian struggles to find rhythm. If the teenager can handle the occasion, an upset could be on the cards.
Prediction: Mensik in 3
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Gael Monfils has shown strong form in recent weeks, highlighted by a solid start to the year. His athleticism and shot-making thrive in slower, high-bouncing conditions like those in Indian Wells, which should allow him to extend rallies and disrupt Korda’s rhythm. Korda, meanwhile, hasn’t played since Marseille and may need time to adjust to the conditions, making him vulnerable against an in-form and battle-tested Monfils. If the Frenchman can dictate with his variety and keep Korda moving, he has a strong chance to come out on top.
Prediction: Monfils in 2
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
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Gael Monfils (No. 42) will face Grigor Dimitrov (No. 15) in the Round of 32 at the BNP Paribas Open on Monday, March 10.
Dimitrov is favored (-130) in this match versus Monfils (+100).
Tennis odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Monday at 6:35 PM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub.
Based on the implied probility from the moneyline, Dimitrov has a 56.5% to win.
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