"
It's silly, but I have the impression that it smiled on me a little more
", than usual against the best players in the world, estimated Gaël Monfils, at the end of his qualification for the 8th finals in Indian Wells at the expense of Daniil Medvedev on Monday.
Read alsoIndian Wells: a stunning Monfils offers himself Medvedev who (already) gives up his throne to Djokovic
“
What has changed?
I had a good game.
I managed to stick to my tactical plan from start to finish.
I know that people want to hear a rational thing, but in fact, it smiled at me in the important moments.
I went there, I was rewarded a little.
He was frustrated.
He gave me the second break very quickly
”, in the 3rd round, explained the Frenchman, often inclined to see this type of match against Top 10 players escape him, as at the Australian Open against the 'Italian Matteo Berrettini.
“
I covered my ground well.
I made the rhythm changes at the right times to try to destabilize him.
I served less hard, to be more precise.
I let him play, also create from time to time, because I felt like running
,” he added.
To tie the game one set all, Monfils served for the second time in the match underhand and Medvedev fouls on his rushing return.
Read alsoIndian Wells: Monfils' underhand services that drove Medvedev crazy (video)
“
He is really, really far (in his placement).
It's stupid, but it's tactical!
He's far away, we've just done a rally, I'm trying it.
It's like a cushioning.
And on the set ball, I touch it a little less well, but I put a lot of effect.
We had also just made a long point, he jumped on it a bit
, ”clarified the Frenchman.
It's not easy to watch my in-laws suffer.
Gaël Monfils on the war in Ukraine
For Monfils, “
the real turning point is the first break of the third set.
Behind, I felt a change.
He was a bit off, he was complaining.
He broke his racquet, he was a little annoyed with his forehand.
Inevitably, when you have this information, you try to press on it
”.
Finally, when asked about the difficult context linked to the war in Ukraine, the country of his wife Elina Svitolina, Monfils confided: “
It is not easy to see my in-laws suffer.
It was hard to watch my wife cry every night.
I try to support her.
I am there for her, for her family.
I would do anything for them
”.
