Monfils loses to Vesely in second round at Wimbledon

Gael Monfils of France returns to Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic during their men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Thursday, June 26, 2014. (AP Photo/Sang Tan)

Sang Tan

LONDON (AP) Gael Monfils made another early exit at Wimbledon, losing 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-7 (1), 6-7 (3), 6-4 to Jiri Vesely in the second round of the grass-court Grand Slam on Thursday.

The 24th-seeded Monfils, who reached the quarterfinals at the French Open earlier this month, has never advanced past the third round at the All England Club on a surface he struggles with.

Monfils hit 71 winners, including 23 aces, but had trouble returning his opponent's serve.

Vesely, a former junior world No. 1, is playing at Wimbledon for the first time. The Czech could face another Frenchman in the next round, 13th-seeded Richard Gasquet.