Gael Monfils had one his matches during the US Open semi-final against Novak Djokovic. After being 0-5 down in the opening set, Gael started to act weird to try to get in Djokovic’s head. The Frenchman was returning very close to the service line, and he was continuously putting the ball back almost showing he was uninterested. This is textbook Monfils, but somebody with a different philosophy in tennis (John McEnroe) didn’t like it.

Monfils is unprofessional. MCENROE

During the semi-final, the American legend was commenting for ESPN to say that “Monfils is bordering on unprofessional. And the only reason I say bordering is because it’s working. It’s a damn shame.”

He is offending all my entourage. MONFILS

Gael was genuinely thinking that that was the right strategy to comment “At the beginning, I think Novak was playing good. I didn’t serve great. It was very quickly 5-0. I had to change a little bit. Why stay and lose 6-0 and not change anything? Definitely, I try to get in his head try to create something new for him to see.

When the guy is too good, playing clean and you’re playing not that good you need to change. I almost get back in the first set.”

Then he added “I’m very sad to learn that such a legend criticizes me, because at the end what I can say to John is, you know, John, I want to be the best. It’s tough, you know. And I try my best.

I think I’m failing … but I try to stand up. When he calls me unprofessional, he calls my coach unprofessional, calls my physio unprofessional, all my team, actually, unprofessional.

I want to say to John that I’m more than happy to talk with him,” he commented. “You know, (he) is someone that I always care about what he is saying, but I’m just sad that he criticizes me that easy.”