Monfils=Great Pro?

[Anonymous]

I'd like to hear the thoughts of people about Gael Monfils's pro career. Do you think he'll be great and win slams?
-Edward

[Tim Tiger Henman]

No - as I said in the other thread the reason he did so well in the juniors was he was a child trapped in a mans body. It was like that film with Tom Hanks. You know the one I mean - Saving Private Ryan.

[guernica1]

Juniors typically make a big transformation once they start hitting the pro's. The level of consistency required just in a typical rally is totally different.

Monfils has the tools he just needs to stay healthy. Based only on his interviews he seems to have a more ambitious frame of mind than other French juniors who haven't quite panned out.

[BaselineAce]

If he can control his unforced errors, and rally a little better, he can be a top player. His serve is already around 135, and certainly won't get any worse.

[spinbalz]

Tim Tiger Henmann wrote :

he did so well in the juniors was he was a child trapped in a mans body

Not exactly, he is tall but his body is way to thin yet, really thinner than average world class junior players, and he will get physically even better as his body will mature, he is a true gifted natural athlete, and already jumps higher than any of the current Pro players!

I think that he has a very large margin of progression technically as well as physically. If his mental is Worldclass, then no doubt in my mind that he has a slam winner potential.

[NLBwell]

There is a good chance of it, but there have been many #1 Juniors who did not become successful pros for one reason or another. Quiz: Anyone remember Howard Schoenfeld (sp?)? Billy Martin looked like he might have a good pro career, but after a good start, it fizzled. So many things can go wrong.