RAFA2005RG
Banned
We've seen players struggle and then fulfill potential. One day we might see Monfils fulfill his. Is he top 10 material or higher? Who 'should' he be beating on today's tour? Or has he already reached his potential?
What is Monfils potential? Does he have tennis talent, or mainly athleticism?
- Thread starter RAFA2005RG
- Start date
Both. He have talent and is great athlet. I think now is time for him to stop clowning around. In 1 year i hope he will playing finally as tennis player - more thinking on the court and better tactics- more agressive. If he even in 1 year from now will be the same guy i think he is done - in term of potential. He has great potential, but really he needs to start doing something. He is quick, long legs, long arms, great deffense already, but has potential maybe to have best deffense on the tour. Has power- strengnth, great FH, solid BH to start playing more agressively. Also his serve is pretty good, but can be much better with some spin, slice and mixing serves. With his speed he can play also SV on faster surfaces. He has everything to be succesfull in modern physically demanding tennis era, but most important he lacks for now - mental strength - it could came with age and brain on the court- for this he need good couch to teach him how to think and use all his weapons in match.
RAFA2005RG
Banned
Actually, maybe "athleticism" is not the right word for what Monfils has got. Athleticism incorporates many physical qualities including stamina/endurance. Stamina is Monfils weakness at times. Monfils physical quality is perhaps strictly "flexibility".
Marius_Hancu
Talk Tennis Guru
We will never know the full extent of his potential, because he was coached poorly to go for a defensive style, much too far from the baseline.
He's running like a hound, and that is not the purpose of intelligent tennis.
He's running like a hound, and that is not the purpose of intelligent tennis.
President
Legend
I definitely don't think he has reached his potential. Monfils has probably the worst point construction skills in the top 30 and yet is in the top 10 solely based on his speed and athleticism. The guy also has great hands up at net and pretty good touch, as well as an excellent serve. His forehand has the potential to be a very good weapon, yet he is content to loop it harmlessly to the service line.
That´s the interesting part - can you imagine what a monster he can be with Federer´s tennis intelligent on the court? He is right now depending on his speed and deffense- just like Nadal used to few years ago, but his FH, his serve have potential to be one of best on the tour. And also just switching from counter-puncher to offensive baseliner or from deffensive player to agressive could help him a lot... he need good couch who will teach him all important things and he needs maybe some tactician team- he needs someone who will teach him how to think on the court, what to do in certain moments. He has all the weapons, he is i think one of the most complete players on the tour, but he is i don´t want to say stupid but he is not very clever for sure....
NYCtennis1
Rookie
The worst part about Gael is that you would think that he has time to really make that big leap at his age (24.) But he's going to waste the opportunity if he doesn't play like he cares about his body/winning. I've even heard him say that he sometimes he gets distracted and thinks about his personal life on the court. Your not winning slams thinking about that stuff on changeovers.
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