He has just won, for the first time in his career, two tournaments in one week by winning in Montpellier and Rotterdam. Gaël Monfils, ninth in the world at 33, has had an excellent start to the season. In an interview with L'Equipe this Tuesday, the best Frenchman on the circuit talks about his dream of winning on clay at Roland Garros. Without having too many illusions.
"When I say that I want to win Roland-Garros, it's hard because I have practically as many chances of winning at EuroMillions, underlines the one who rose in the semi-final on the Parisian clay in 2008 You have to beat Rafa (Nadal) who has never really lost to Roland, whom I have never beaten on earth. You have to beat Thiem, whom I have never beaten, and who is second or third in the world on earth. You have to beat Novak (Djokovic) whom I have never beaten in sixteen games. "
"If I am a goat, who are those who are behind me?"
Gaël Monfils, who remains on a knockout round in the Grand Slam against Dominic Thiem at the Australian Open, also regrets having to justify himself on matches he may have missed in the first part of his career. Or even his spoiled semi-final against Novak Djokovic at the US Open in 2016.
"It annoys me that people are stuck on the past, annoys the French. No season is alike. I want us to climb lower but be more positive. When we see how we talk about us, we have the impression that we are goats! I am ninth in the world, if I am a goat, who are those who are behind me? "