Gael Monfils: French No. 1 Tennis Star Pulls Out After Health Problems Caused By COVID-19 Booster Shot

French No.1 tennis star Gael Monfils will be unable to play at next week’s Davis Cup after suffering health problems caused by the COVID-19 booster shot. 

Monfils, who is currently ranked as the world’s 25th best men’s player, made the announcement in a brief statement published on social media in which he explained his recent ill-health. 

Monfils made a strong start to the season, winning his first title in two years in Adelaide and then reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open. 

However, he last competed at the Montpellier Open in his native France in late January in which he endured a shock 6-1, 6-2 defeat at the hands of Mikael Ymer, who is ranked 83rd in the world. 

Monfils wrote on Tuesday: 

“Hello everyone, I wanted to give you some news following my recent rest in tournaments. I suffered a small health problem (probably following my third dose of the vaccine). On the advice of my doctor, I decided to take time to rest. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to play the Davis Cup next week. I hope to be able to return to the United States.” 

Monfils has become the second French tennis player to be forced off the court due to an adverse reaction to the COVID vaccine. 

In September last year, tennis star Jeremy Chardy suffered a severe adverse reaction to the Pfizer vaccine he had received in August. Chardy has not played a match since the US Open last summer and is now ranked 138th in the world (was 73rd before his vaccine injury).

SOURCE.