Tennis 2022 Gael Monfil • Return of Felix Auger-Aliassime to ROTTERDAM • Happy birthday Richard Krajicek

Gaël Monfils and Felix Auger-Aliassime can be seen in action in February at Rotterdam Ahoy. The two finalists of the 2020 tournament, won by Monfils, have confirmed their participation. The 49th ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament will take place from February 5 to 13, 2022.

Tournament director Richard Krajicek: “With Gaël Monfils, the spectacle is guaranteed. There’s a reason he’s won the last two times he’s played at Rotterdam Ahoy. But Félix Auger-Aliassime is also a player to look forward to. It wouldn’t surprise me if he took the final step in February and won his first title in the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament.

Gaël Monfils in search of a record in Rotterdam

Gaël Monfils is chasing a record in Rotterdam. After his previous tournament victories in 2019 and 2020, he is seeking his third title. If he wins the title again, he will equal record holder Roger Federer, who is the only one to win the tournament three times.

Monfils delivered several excellent performances during its nine previous participations. In 2010 and 2015 he reached the quarter-finals, in 2009 he lost the semi-finals against Rafael Nadal and in 2016 the final against Martin Klizan. He won the title in his last two appearances. In 2019, he beat Stan Wawrinka in the final. A year later, he was too strong for Félix Auger-Aliassime.

Auger-Aliassime in search of his first title

Felix Auger-Aliassime is one of the most promising talents on the ATP Tour. Although he is only 21 years old, he has been in the top 100 for over two years. Last month he reached the top 10 for the first time. He’s still waiting for his first tournament win, but has often been close. His place in the final of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in 2020 was one of eight times he was a finalist.

Field of players

Six players have now been announced. Besides Monfils and Auger-Aliassime, there are Stefanos Tsitsipas and Hubert Hurkacz and Davis Cup winners Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev.

Editor’s Note • Happy birthday to our friend and tournament director Richard Krajicek. He is the best player-turned-tournament director of his generation. (LJ)