Last year's first-round encounter against Sebastien Baez was arguably one of the most thrilling night sessions on the Parisian clay, with the Frenchman escaping from a deficit of 0-4 and two breaks in the fifth set, prompting the packed crowd on Court Philippe-Chatrier to break into the national anthem, La Marseillaise.
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Before the start of this year's campaign, Monfils acknowledged the support of the crowd here at his home Slam.
"The public was always fabulous whatever happened," he said. "I always felt good. There were always completely crazy stories going on, and I had disastrous matches. That's why I was saying that there were ups and downs.
"But I was so lucky every time, because the public was defending me, was supporting me. And they understood every time. They understood me and they would support me. I never lied to them. I would tell them, you know, I'm not going on well or I'm going well and then I'm going to party if I lose or if I win. I'll try to do my utmost, and we all try to have a great time."