Gael Monfils will miss the Monte Carlo Masters for a third successive year as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.
The 32-year-old Frenchman has not played competitively since withdrawing from his Indian Wells quarter-final clash against Dominic Thiem because of an Achilles tendon issue.
Monfils had hoped to be back on court in time to feature in Monte Carlo next week as the clay-court season gets into full swing ahead of next month’s French Open.
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However, the world number 16, who lost to Rafael Nadal in the final on his last appearance at the tournament in 2016, is still not ready to play and withdrew just after the draw was made.
His absence has paved the way clear for British number one Kyle Edmund to replace him and the 24-year-old will go up against Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman in the first round.
