The Resilience of Gaël Monfils: Seeking a Comeback on the American Tennis Scene

Not so long ago, all the hopes of French men’s tennis still rested on him. To date, Gaël Monfils remains the last Blue to have reached a Grand Slam quarter-final: it was at the 2022 Australian Open. But since then, the former French number 1 has been too often betrayed by his body. So much so that in the past year, since his right foot injury in Canada last summer, he has only tasted victory once in a first round as improbable as it is exciting at Roland-Garros two months ago.

From ? Almost nothing. The fault of a recalcitrant left wrist, the latest physical glitch to date, which deprived him of the grass season and Wimbledon. This new tile could have resigned him, but Monfils still took his troubles patiently before replaying last week in Atlanta with… a defeat at the start against Thanasi Kokkinakis. Difficult in these conditions to be very optimistic for the one who fell to 323rd place in the world. And yet the person concerned believes he can still bounce back, inspired by an American air that has often smiled on him.

A remarkable record in Washington

“All my career, I really liked playing in the United States, I had a strong connection with the public, he confided in an interview with the ATP site. speed of the courts here which suits my game pretty well when I’m in good shape All those US Open prep tournaments are always fun to play The first time I came to Washington I remember losing to John Isner in an incredible match (6-7, 7-6, 7-6 in 2007, editor’s note). And I played a few of them here. I also remember that (Radek) Stepanek beat me also in the final (6-4, 6-4 in 2011) here despite incredible support. And of course I ended up winning the tournament.”

This title dates from 2016 and had launched a good summer which had seen him reach the semi-finals in Toronto and at the US Open where his pet peeve Novak Djokovic (18 defeats for no victory) had stopped him each time. At the time, La Monf’ was having the best season of his career with a certain Mikael Tillström as coach, whom he has just rehired. Should we see a sign there? Be that as it may, six years after his last visit, the Frenchman’s record in Washington – a title, a final and a half in four appearances – is enough to give him courage.

“When I come back here, these good memories give me energy and make me want to do even better, which is to start from where I am at the moment to find this form that I had. But it only helps a little bit, and what happens on the court is different”, he however tempered. It is true that Monfils lacks confidence and that the road is long before finding it completely. But against Kokkinakis, whose talent cannot be doubted, he showed great things, even missing the mark after leading 4-0 in the decisive tie-break of the third set.

Gael Monfils in Atlanta in 2023

Credit: Getty Images

I want to play great tennis on the biggest stages, that’s what I’m fighting for

In Washington, the American Bjorn Fratangelo, from qualifying and 695th in the world, will be offered entry, a challenge that seems within reach of the Frenchman and perhaps likely to re-ignite a positive dynamic. Especially since the carrot of a second round against Alexander Bublik, never the last either to put on a show, is more than appetizing. And Monfils is still hungry, even though the arrival of his daughter has changed his priorities. At almost 37 years old, he knows that his time is now running out, so he might as well put the odds on his side.

“The desire to be at the highest level is very demanding. People may think that I am always enthusiastic about everything but it is more complicated than that: it requires a lot of discipline and even more when you get older. injury, it’s very demanding physically of course, but also mentally. I really hope to be able to enjoy the circuit a little more, let’s say maybe another two years. My objective is to choose a little better than before the tournaments that I want to play and I still want to do well. I want to play on the biggest stages and great tennis, that’s what I fight for,” he insisted.

At this stage of his career, he can no longer assume the role of locomotive of French men’s tennis. It is perhaps not so bad, so many others like Arthur Fils, brilliant semi-finalist in Hamburg last week, Luca Van Assche or even Ugo Humbert on the return (semi-finalist in Atlanta) assert themselves more now. What if their example gave inspiration to their glorious elder? At Roland, the magic had worked. On the American scene, the showman Monfils may have other tricks up his sleeve.

2023-07-31 08:28:00
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