For context, Monfils has won 12 ATP career titles, all of which have come on hardcourt surfaces. The Frenchman has also performed well this year on hardcourt. He reached the semifinals of the Qatar Open before losing to runner-up Jakub Mensik. At Indian Wells, he earned his biggest victory, beating Hubert Hurkacz in the first round and going on to reach the round of 16.

However, with his age and lack of time to adapt, the French legend has revealed that this season’s clay court will be difficult for him. Having not played so much on clay surfaces of late due to injuries, he exited the Millennium Estoril Open round of 16 after losing to Marton Fucsovics.

Maybe I need a bit more time to adapt myself to find my range. I haven't played so much on clay, also, lately. I think clay also is my worst court now. As I say, you know when you're getting old you prefer a quicker point. So I need to continue like that and you know, those matches (Estoril matches) give you confidence.

Said Gael Monfils on Tennis Weekly podcast

Meanwhile, Monfils may not have much time to adapt to clay court now that he has been handed a wildcard for the Monte Carlo Masters, which starts on April 7 in Monaco.

Gael Monfils crashes out of Estoril Open after losing to Marton Fucsovics

Gael Monfils exited the Estoril Open after losing to Marton Fucsovics 6-1, 1-6, 7-5 at the Clube de Ténis do Estoril.

The World No. 47 had shown brilliance in his first match when he defeated wildcard Henrique Rocha 7-5, 7-5. However, Fucsovics took advantage of the Frenchman’s slip in the third set to win the game.

Monfils won the first set without much reaction from Hungarian Fucsovics but slipped in the second set with poor backhands. In the third set, he looked like he was almost getting the match-winner when he led Fucsovics 5-4 but let his lead slip again to hand the match-winner to the Hungarian.

Fucsovics will face top seed Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals, while Monfils heads to Monaco after being handed a wildcard for the Monte Carlo Masters.