Gael Monfils says he's feeling healthier ahead of Roland Garros, but still feels some lingering pain from the knee injury that forced him out of Munich earlier this month.

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"I feel great because I think my body is getting better and better every day. I was a bit bothering with my knee," the 14th-ranked Frenchman told the media at Roland Garros. "[I] had a lot of rehab. I just pick up the racquet maybe four days ago, four, five days ago. Maybe I miss a bit tennis, but every day it's getting better. I have few more days. Hopefully I pass the first round and, you know, just improve my game day after day, you know."

The 2008 Roland Garros semifinalist faces fellow Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin in the opening around. Monfils concedes he's stressed ahead of his home Grand Slam, but said it's "good stress."

"Absolutely stress has been building, but I think it's good stress," Monfils said. "I'm always tense. I'll be tense from now onwards, up to the warmup.  But once I'm on the court, it's different. I know there will be a lot of tension all the way up to that moment. Again, once I'm on the court, once I start playing — of course, there is always a little bit of stress during the game, but most of it is gone then.

"I want to do well. The conditions this year are a little different. I think I feel different. I feel better compared to before. I have a little bit of pain, but I'm feeling well. I think that I can do quite well...Honestly, I do like stress. Stress is not something that has ever bothered me.  Whoever beats me, if it's Edouard, well, they will have to work hard to do so."

Though La Monf has instituted a "no-dancing" policy at this year's French Open, it didn't stop him from flying above the court during kids' day.

"I said I wouldn't dance. More seriously, no. I won't do it," Monfils said.  "You know, I'm not even sure people will want me to do it. Honestly, I did not plan on dancing this year."

Photo credit: FFT