I have no confidence, cries Gael Monfils after an early exit

MELBOURNE: An emotional Gael Monfils exited the Australian Open in anguish on Monday after a shock five-set loss to Finnish tyro Emil Ruusuvuori and said he felt trapped in a "nightmare" as he battles through a form slump.

Tenth seed Monfils, who last tasted victory in Dubai nearly a year ago, crashed to his seventh successive loss and only his second first-round defeat at Melbourne Park.

"I lost, I have zero confidence, I played badly," Monfils told reporters, his voice breaking as he held back tears after the 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 loss.

"I cannot serve, I make mistakes ... I do not feel right and it shows.

"I know that I have lost a lot and it hurts me. I would like to wake up and tell myself that this nightmare is over, but I don't know when it will stop.

"I have no confidence, I have no confidence."

Monfils, a former quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park, converted only six out of 23 break points against 21-year-old Ruusuvuori, the world number 86 who was in his main draw at the tournament. Agencies

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