Monfils handed wild card for Monte Carlo

PARIS (AFP) –

France’s Gael Monfils shouts during his men’s singles match in Melbourne on January 20, 2013. Monfils has been handed a wild card for next month’s Monte Carlo Masters, but Roger Federer will be absent from the event, tournament organisers confirmed

France’s Gael Monfils has been handed a wild card for next month’s Monte Carlo Masters, but Roger Federer will be absent from the event, tournament organisers confirmed on Friday.

Monfils, a former top-10 player who has fallen down the rankings during his recent struggles with injury, has not played since falling at the first hurdle in Marseille last month.

Currently ranked 99th in the world, Monfils plans to make his return to action on clay in Houston the week before Monte Carlo, which runs from April 14-21.

Rafael Nadal, who has won the title in each of the last eight years, will be there along with World No 1 Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray.

However, Federer will miss the event for the second year in succession.