Gael Monfils is currently experiencing an umpteenth spring in his tennis career.
At the age of 37, the charismatic Frenchman won an ATP tournament in Stockholm last week for the first time since January 2022.
And now, in front of his ex-coach and friend Günter Bresnik, he has also succeeded in the first round of the Erste Bank Open. Monfils defeated the German Daniel Altmaier safely on Wednesday with 6:4,6:4.
This brings about a duel between two audience favorites.
Monfils now against last year’s finalist Tiafoe
In the round of 16 on Thursday (2nd match after 5.30 p.m.) Monfils will face the number 7 seeded American Frances Tiafoe. It is also the meeting of two former Vienna finalists – Monfils achieved this in 2008, Tiafoe two years ago. The latter is of course the favorite as number 14 in the world.
Monfils returned to the top 100 for the first time after Stockholm and the trend continues to rise. “Last year, before my injury, I was number 15 in the world and played great tennis and also beat number 1 in the world,” recalled Monfils, when asked whether he had surprised himself with his umpteenth spring.
Bresnik is still in active contact with Monfils
Günter Bresnik was back in the box with Monfils, among others, but is not his trainer again. “(Mikael) Tillström took on the role of coach, and did it very well, as you can see. But we had dinner with my wife and his wife and we talk on the phone very regularly. There is hardly a match since we don’t talk to each other on the phone or via Whatsapp ,” Bresnik revealed in the ServusTV interview.
He himself is surprised by his ex-protégé’s recent boom. “I welcomed him in Vienna with the words that I no longer thought it was possible for him to win another tournament.” For him, Monfils is currently playing tennis “almost like he was in his prime.”
Monfils commented on Bresnik’s role later in the press conference. “It was great with Günter. Apart from everything related to tennis, he is a great personality. He is also a mentor for me,” said the Frenchman with Caribbean roots. “He made me aware of so many things that helped me in my game. He definitely also helped me serve better. When I started working with Günter, my serve collapsed,” Monfils recalled.
In any case, even at 37, there is no end to my career in sight. “I will try to keep my body healthy and get to where I believe I belong,” promised Monfils.
2023-10-25 15:30:29
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