We can't stop Gaël Monfils anymore… Since the start of the season, the world number 9 has been insatiable. Thirteen victories in fifteen games (two defeats against Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem) and already two tournaments won (ATP 250 in Montpellier and ATP 500 in Rotterdam) in a month and a half of competition. Unheard of in the career of the Parisian, 33, who had never managed to win more than one title per year since the first of his ten trophies (in 31 finals) at Sopot in 2005. To the point that the Habs points to 3rd place in the Race (behind Djokovic and Thiem), the classification established over the calendar year.
"We are working hard and we are finally seeing the result," said Monfils. But we have bigger goals. The leader of French tennis has never hidden it. He dreams of one day lifting the Musketeers Cup (he reached the semi-finals once and the quarterfinals twice at Roland-Garros) or winning the Central Arthur-Ashe of the US Open (half and three quarters). "Gaël is capable of playing incredible tennis," breathes Canadian Denis Shapovalov (n ° 15), beaten in 2019 by Monfils at the US Open in New York after a huge match in the 3rd round. He has been more serious and more consistent for two years. He is definitely a very big player… ”
"I didn't feel any flaw in him"
With a sentimental life in good shape and a staff to whom he gives all his confidence, all the pieces of the puzzle seem to be together to see La Monf 'live a good season. But how far? If you want to believe it too much, you inevitably become suspicious ... And the age counter is running. “We feel someone good in his head, in combat constantly, without a concentration jump, regular, appreciates Thierry Champion, director of high level at the French Tennis Federation and former coach of the French. It is very reassuring because he can play even better, but he has an average playing background which is very high. "
It remains to break a glass ceiling that inexorably leads him to crash against the very best. "Victory brings victory," breathes Champion. If he were to play Thiem today ( Editor's note: he was rolled by the Austrian in Melbourne ), he would approach it differently. He has just won nine games and it shows that he can go the distance in intensity and consistency in Grand Slam ( Editor's note: seven games to win ). "
Beaten Sunday by Monfils in the Rotterdam final, Félix Auger-Aliassime underlines the physical dimension of his winner. "After two weeks in a row, I really found it very good," said the Canadian. I did not feel any flaw in him. "
To shine in Paris, the blue n ° 1 must now take a step in Masters 1000. And pray to be spared by its traditional spring wounds. "You have to at least beat a top 5 before Roland to tell yourself that you can do it," said Champion. You have to do a good programming on land, favor the Masters 1000 and get there in shape. We must not skip the steps and Gaël knows it. He is still intact, he wants to do things in tennis… ”