Gael Monfils announced on Saturday that he will not compete in the Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of 2023.

Gael MonfilsPhoto: James Gourley / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

Monfils said he made the decision to benefit from the protected rating.

“There’s this protected rating that applies if you haven’t played for a certain number of months. If I played the Australian Open, I wouldn’t get any more out of it. This is the decision I made and I will return to the field in mid-February,” – Gael Monfilson Canal +.

The protected classification applies to players who are absent from the circuit for at least six months, and Gael Monfils played his last match on August 11, when he bowed out in the third round of the Montreal Masters, against Britain’s Jack Draper, according to News.ro.