BEEB SLIPPED UP WITH GAEL

GAEL MONFILS was a pain in the grass for the BBC and Wimbledon.

In the last fortnight, the Frenchman had reached the Eastbourne final and equalled his SW19 best by getting to round three.

So the Beeb would have been forgiven for thinking they were on safe ground, asking him if he was now taking a liking to the surface, having previously groaned about it. A bit of positive publicity would have been welcome too, with Wimbledon coming under fire for the state of their courts this year.

But 30-year-old Monfils (above) didn’t read the script and said: “I’m not a big fan.

“As soon as I drop the focus on my movement, I slip 100 per cent.

“I think it’s not very enjoyable for me to move on grass and play, because I’m thinking too much.”