Monfils a dangerous floater at the AO?

[sdont]

He's down to #77 in the world after months of injury, and he's defending a final appearance in Doha this week. He obviously won't be seeded at the AO.

But he's just beaten #20 Kohlschreiber, meaning he's back in business and playing well above his ranking, even if not at the top of his abilities.

Do you think he can make some top seeds sweat at the AO or is it too early for him to be dangerous in a best-of-5 tournament?

 

[tacou]

probably too early, his fitness came into question at a few points in the match today. however, if he is a first or second round match up for Novak, Murray or Fed, could get real interesting.

 

[dhdriver]

Although I love watching their matches, LaMonf typically beats Kohlie. 8-1 now after their match today.

 

[sdont]

Although I love watching their matches, LaMonf typically beats Kohlie. 8-1 now after their match today.

Agreed. But it shows Gael is already back to a decent level.

 

[Walenty]

For his ranking, certainly.

If one of the top 4 draws him early on they'll probably get put on Laver for a night match in front of a big crowd, which is where Gael always seems to play his best. Though I still think he could have always been higher ranked.

It should be interesting when they release the draw.

EDIT: After watching his match against Brands I can say Monfils still looks injured. He wasn't moving well and was just rolling serves in. So no, I guess not. Davydenko looks to be the dangerous floater this year.

 

[stringertom]

ScaryClownLaMonf is always dangerous...to himself!

 

[West Coast Ace]

He's only made R16 once at the AO... lost to Simon! So I'm not buying.

Lester and Koenig think the locker room is praying Davydenko wins Doha to get to #32 and get seeded - definite dangerous floater otherwise. He's made the QF 4 times at the AO.

 

[roundiesee]

How has he ben playing recently? Haven't had the chance to catch him on TV unfortunately.

 

[sdont]

His fitness is still questionable it seems. I don't have much hope after all.

 

[TheF1Bob]

A Frenchman being dangerous?

:lol:

 

[scineram]

A Frenchman being dangerous?

:lol:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJSpOvozUhI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVtNcx9Fp-s

 

[dominikk1985]

he is obviously better than his ranking but I don't think he has the potential to challenge the big guys.

he is a tremendous athlete but he lacks weapons.

 

[sandiegoman]

Monfils is more of a joker than Djokovic. The big four aren't really scared of him... he needs to play more agressive to be a threat

 

[The Bawss]

1-6 vs. Federer
0-8 vs. Djokovic
2-8 vs. Nadal

The only top 4 player he can trouble is Murray (2-3 h2h) but then again, who can't?

 

[sdont]

Just realized Gael will probably be ranked outside of the top 100 next week. :-?

 

[The Bawss]

Just realized Gael will probably be ranked outside of the top 100 next week. :-?

Il paye le prix pour avoir fait le singe toutes ces années.

In other news, it's good to see Gasquet back to where he belongs (in the top 10).

 

[batz]

1-6 vs. Federer
0-8 vs. Djokovic
2-8 vs. Nadal

The only top 4 player he can trouble is Murray (2-3 h2h) but then again, who can't?

Federer?

10 inferior headtoheads

 

[The Bawss]

Federer?

10 inferior headtoheads

It certainly looked like he gave him some considerable trouble in those three slam finals.

 

[Big_Dangerous]

Il paye le prix pour avoir fait le singe toutes ces années.

In other news, it's good to see Gasquet back to where he belongs (in the top 10).

I'm not sure that's where he belongs. He's a pretty passive player, standing way back to return serves.

His backhand is majestic, but still, he just plays so defensively.

 

[The Bawss]

I'm not sure that's where he belongs. He's a pretty passive player, standing way back to return serves.

His backhand is majestic, but still, he just plays so defensively.

Hmm. Yea. The way he plays annoys me too but hey, he's french. I think #10 or #9 is fine but no higher; if Tipsy is in the top10 why not Gasquet?

 

[Onehandedbackhand]

Monfils has to get by guys like Bautista-Agut or Janowicz or Dimitrov first. Those guys are on a momentum high, have more consistency, and actually care about working hard.

 

[Virginia]

He's playing in Auckland this week - wild card entry.

 

[GhostDog]

I thought he was out of the AO due to injury. Good to hear. I hope he doesn't reinjure himself in Auckland.

As frustrating as Monfils can to be to watch, and clowing/low tennis IQ stuff he does on court, when he's on his game, few are as fun watch.

 

[rafafan20]

Monfils is very dangerous

 

[Rhino]

Let's see how he does against Becker, which starts in a few minutes.
Benji is in pretty good form by the looks of things.

 

[smoledman]

I'm sure Federer is quaking in his Nike Vapors.

 

[Onehandedbackhand]

Gorgeous forehand up the line by Monfils.

Why doesn't he do that more often!

 

[Onehandedbackhand]

If you TRULY want to make tennis relevant again, you don't play "Let's do the twist" on changeovers.

 

[smoledman]

If you TRULY want to make tennis relevant again, you don't play "Let's do the twist" on changeovers.

No instead you should play some Cannibal Corpse or some emo ****.

 

[Onehandedbackhand]

No instead you should play some Cannibal Corpse or some emo ****.

Not even close to my type of music. I just mean let's get somewhere nearer to this era.

 

[DolgoSantoro]

I'm not quite sure. If I were a pro there are certainly people who I'd rather play in the early rounds than him, but it hinges on how healthy and motivated he is, which are always questions.

 

[Love Game]

He's down to #77 in the world after months of injury, and he's defending a final appearance in Doha this week. He obviously won't be seeded at the AO.

But he's just beaten #20 Kohlschreiber, meaning he's back in business and playing well above his ranking, even if not at the top of his abilities.

Do you think he can make some top seeds sweat at the AO or is it too early for him to be dangerous in a best-of-5 tournament?

agree with those who think it's probably too early. yes, he did well in doha last week, but outdoor hard isnt generally his cuppa. assume he took the wild card at auckland on plexicushion with the idea in mind to do better than his 2012 AO loss to Kukushkin in third round.

looking pretty good at auckland (where he's no. 99 this week) so far, but doubt he'll get past david ferrer if he makes it to the semis, which I hope he does.

 

[Onehandedbackhand]

agree with those who think it's probably too early. yes, he did well in doha last week, but outdoor hard isnt generally his cuppa. assume he took the wild card at auckland on plexicushion with the idea in mind to do better than his 2012 AO loss to Kukushkin in third round.

looking pretty good at auckland (where he's no. 99 this week) so far, but doubt he'll get past david ferrer if he makes it to the semis, which I hope he does.

Don't count him out...Ferrer's never beaten Le Monf.

 

[Love Game]

Don't count him out...Ferrer's never beaten Le Monf.

excellent point that!
seems a bit odd they've only played three times. twice on clay and once on indoor hard. surprising. the last time was French Open 2011 ... wow ... now really looking forward to a ferrer/monfils semi!

 

[sdont]

agree with those who think it's probably too early. yes, he did well in doha last week, but outdoor hard isnt generally his cuppa. assume he took the wild card at auckland on plexicushion with the idea in mind to do better than his 2012 AO loss to Kukushkin in third round.

looking pretty good at auckland (where he's no. 99 this week) so far, but doubt he'll get past david ferrer if he makes it to the semis, which I hope he does.

Hi LG and happy new year. I don't think I've seen you around for quite some time.

I agree too. My thread was probably a bit premature considering what happened in the next round. But it's good to see him back, especially after the rumors of him being depressive.

At this stage, a third round result at the AO would be pretty good, since it means he would have beaten a seed to get there.

In Auckland, I'm actually more worried by Haas than Ferrer.

 

[Love Game]

Hi LG and happy new year. I don't think I've seen you around for quite some time.

I agree too. My thread was probably a bit premature considering what happened in the next round. But it's good to see him back, especially after the rumors of him being depressive.

At this stage, a third round result at the AO would be pretty good, since it means he would have beaten a seed to get there.

In Auckland, I'm actually more worried by Haas than Ferrer.

Hey, sdont! Bonne année to you, too! I've been so distracted at work that I even forgot to watch my favorite new year tournament: the Hopman cup!

I hadn't heard about his emotional aspect before ... did he break up with his GF? I did notice him making the sign of the cross after his win yesterday and was reminded that that seemed a relatively new thing for him, tho I had seen him do it also sometime last year. IMO it's an improvement over those "in-your-face victory dances" he used to do. He's still a lot of fun to watch. The crowd interest is definitely higher when he plays. In his after-match interview yesterday he mentioned being here in Auckland "alone," which had me wondering a bit since Paire is there, too, but I guess he meant without coach? That seems a little unlikely as a reason for depression, though, since he's been sans coach for a while now and it was his choice to do so.

Ferrer's legendary self-discipline would seem to make him the favorite for the trophy, but it could be really fun if monfils could somehow make it past him to the auckland championship! Third round at AO, if not higher, seems almost a foregone conclusion at this point, but his next match (versus the guy who took out Melzer) should take him thru to Haas, whom I'd DEARLY LOVE to see him beat!

 

[sdont]

Hey, sdont! Bonne année to you, too! I've been so distracted at work that I even forgot to watch my favorite new year tournament: the Hopman cup!

I hadn't heard about his emotional aspect before ... did he break up with his GF? I did notice him making the sign of the cross after his win yesterday and was reminded that that seemed a relatively new thing for him, tho I had seen him do it also sometime last year. IMO it's an improvement over those "in-your-face victory dances" he used to do. He's still a lot of fun to watch. The crowd interest is definitely higher when he plays. In his after-match interview yesterday he mentioned being here in Auckland "alone," which had me wondering a bit since Paire is there, too, but I guess he meant without coach? That seems a little unlikely as a reason for depression, though, since he's been sans coach for a while now and it was his choice to do so.

Ferrer's legendary self-discipline would seem to make him the favorite for the trophy, but it could be really fun if monfils could somehow make it past him to the auckland championship! Third round at AO, if not higher, seems almost a foregone conclusion at this point, but his next match (versus the guy who took out Melzer) should take him thru to Haas, whom I'd DEARLY LOVE to see him beat!

Gael dismissed the rumors last week. I think he's OK. But I think he would be better with a coach. (On a side note, I'm eager to see where Jo can go with Roger Rasheed as his coach.)

I sure hope Gael will have a good run in Auckland, it's not like he is likely to go deep at the AO anyway. He definitely needs ranking points, it would be sad to see him have to play qualies.

 

[Onehandedbackhand]

Ferrer has no desperation right now. He's very disciplined and hates losing at any time, but there's really nothing disastrous about losing in Auckland. He loses points, but still takes over #4, and he's a 4th seed at the Open. He got to the quarters, so the semis would give him serious points.

Where it becomes a problem is the clay season, if Nadal comes back, and he has a TON of points to make up.

 

[rdis10093]

best of five is not that great for monfils

 

[bluetrain4]

He's dangerous as a floater to anyone at or below the level Monfils was generally ranked before the injury problems. Basically, he could "upset" a player seeded anywhere from 8 or 9 to 32. "Could" not "will."

BUT, (1) if he were to pull an upset in the early rounds, I'm not sure he could make a sustained run given he's probably not in incredible match shape (though it's improving) and the matches are longer (and it's hot), and just given his normal flighty-ness, though I'd like to see it happen;
(2) he's not a threat to the top guys. Yes, he could maybe take a set and just generally make things interesting (and fun!) for stretches during a match, but he's not consistent enough or clear-of-mind enough to upset the big boys; and
(3) While being a dangerous floater, he could still, of course, lose to basically anyone. You truly never know what will happen with him.

The draw is always better with Le Monf.

 

[RodSmooth]

Monfils is dangerous to the top 5 if he's playing at his peak, but ATM he's just getting back into things.


But it's up to monfils how far and how dangerous he is in the tournament, he's a genetic freak with no consistency match after match or direction.

 

[Ace of Aces]

I hope he can stay healthy. He is fun to watch.

 

[bluetrain4]

Monfils v. Doglopolov in the first round? LOL. Anything, ANYTHING, could happen. Should be crazily entertaining.

 

[RodSmooth]

Well that sucks, I was hoping monfils had an easy first couple of rounds.

Dolgopolov has been stinking it up lately though.

Gonna be tough

 

[Onehandedbackhand]

This will be a unforced error's best friend.

 

[RodSmooth]

This will be a unforced error's best friend.

How so man?

 

[Onehandedbackhand]

Because both guys can have stages of sheer brilliance, but it's coupled with lots and lots of stupid shots, and bad choices at wrong times.

 

[mrmo1115]

^ Doesn't mean that the match will be flooded with UE's. Le Monf is not the one to make many errors since his game is not trigger happy. Dogo is quite consistent himself. I can see a lot of long rallies and grinding tennis.

 

[Marius_Hancu]

he's finished as a result of poor thinking re movement