The renaissance of Gael Monfils?

The Guru

Legend
I'm a fan of his (see my photo) but his level these past two weeks has been really average. I was super optimistic last year during this time because I thought his level and focus was some of his best ever but when he got injured he lost all his progress. He's really just back to pushing right now and his opponents have been bad so it's working. I don't see him getting a career-defining breakthrough with a M 1000 win (which I feel he deserves) or a GS final or even a SF for that matter. The level is just not there right now and the style of tennis he's playing won't beat in form top 10 players. I hope I'm wrong but I'm fairly pessimistic on his chances for a great tournament in big events.
 

King No1e

G.O.A.T.
I'm a fan of his (see my photo) but his level these past two weeks has been really average. I was super optimistic last year during this time because I thought his level and focus was some of his best ever but when he got injured he lost all his progress. He's really just back to pushing right now and his opponents have been bad so it's working. I don't see him getting a career-defining breakthrough with a M 1000 win (which I feel he deserves) or a GS final or even a SF for that matter. The level is just not there right now and the style of tennis he's playing won't beat in form top 10 players. I hope I'm wrong but I'm fairly pessimistic on his chances for a great tournament in big events.
I always thought that was Djokovic before this post made me look closer.
Mind blown.
 

James P

G.O.A.T.
Honestly, it's been a remarkable couple of weeks, but I need to see more. Dubai would be helpful, but I'd really like to see this old man grab a masters title.
 

Clay lover

Legend
He's one of the most consistent players around. The criticism of him not achieving more is completely unfounded. Always has been.
People criticize him because they've seen him hitting hard and think that means he can hit hard every time. The truth is just that some people are naturally good at reactive tennis while some are better at shotmaking.
 

swordtennis

G.O.A.T.
He looks really good. He looks like he is 28.
I think his time with svitolina has helped him.
Injuries have been nagging him.
Maybe a deep run at the FO? fingers crossed!
 

travlerajm

Talk Tennis Guru
The only reason he's back in the top 10 is because of this "33 is the new 23" thing that's been happening on the ATP Tour lately.
 

The Green Mile

Bionic Poster
The showmanship is still there, the clowning will probably appear when he faces better competition. I don't think he's playing anything special right now, just his usual base level tbh.... Looks like the law of averages are finally equaling out, hence the title wins ;) A little shocked he's back in the top ten tbh... Looking at his last 52 weeks though, yeah, he's going pretty deep in a lot of tournaments....
 

TagUrIt

Hall of Fame
I’ve always enjoyed watching Monfils, yeah he’s a bit of a showman, but he gets the job done when he needs to. I’m happy to see him wining titles and moving up the ranks. I expect 2020 to be a good year for him if he can stay healthy.
 

tennisaddict

Bionic Poster
I'm a fan of his (see my photo) but his level these past two weeks has been really average. I was super optimistic last year during this time because I thought his level and focus was some of his best ever but when he got injured he lost all his progress. He's really just back to pushing right now and his opponents have been bad so it's working. I don't see him getting a career-defining breakthrough with a M 1000 win (which I feel he deserves) or a GS final or even a SF for that matter. The level is just not there right now and the style of tennis he's playing won't beat in form top 10 players. I hope I'm wrong but I'm fairly pessimistic on his chances for a great tournament in big events.

You are spot on. He will always be Clownfils.

It is a joke era that guys like Isner, Monfils, Fognini all camp in top 10.
 

Indio

Semi-Pro
Monfils's #10 ranking at the end of last season was somewhat misleading, as it was fashioned in large part because draws worked out well for him--He faced only three Top 10 players all year, a very low number of such encounters for a full season. He finished 1-2 against them. So far this year, it looks like more of the same. He didn't face any Top 10s in his two recent victories (nor any Top 20s) and was stopped both times he did play them. On the other hand, cleaning up against lower-ranked players isn't necessarily a guaranteed thing. Winning two tournaments in a row is always a good achievement. I too would like to see him win a Masters title sooner or later.
 
Where would you see Gael actually winning a masters title?

It's not very likely but his best chance is probably one of the ones he's made it to the final of: Monte Carlo and Paris. At both, he benefits from home or near home crowds and that seems to inspire him. He's generally best on indoor hard, and the draw in Paris can open up some years. At Monte Carlo, he needs Nadal to start the clay-court season sluggishly again, but if that happens, Monfils could have a chance. Thiem has a poor record there and Djokovic might not play.
 

Mark-Touch

Legend
I like the guy.
It's his tennis that I am not particularly fond of. :(

He's basically a pusher as others have mentioned.
That just won't cut it with the more consistent veterans on tour.

His retrieving skills are on par with Djoker, which is simply amazing.
But he wouldn't need to expend all that energy and get winded every second point if he didn't let others
push him around.
A pusher like him allows others to get him scurrying all over the court.

I view him as a likeable elite journeyman who is lucky to be making gobs of money at the twilight of his career.
 

Krish872007

Talk Tennis Guru
This is Gurufils prepping the Next Gen by schooling them in finals and giving them valuable experience.

Hes had so many of these types of sessions with the Big 3 in the past as well, think he has now decided to accelerate the changing of the guard.
 

BVSlam

Professional
This is Gurufils prepping the Next Gen by schooling them in finals and giving them valuable experience.

Hes had so many of these types of sessions with the Big 3 in the past as well, think he has now decided to accelerate the changing of the guard.
YES! This is exactly what it was. Remember Gurufils beating Nadal at Doha 2012? Next appearance for Nadal in 2014, he had gained all the knowledge to add that elusive Doha title to his resumé. Remember Gurufils beating Fed at Shanghai 2013? In 2014 Maestro came back firing, destroying Djokovic along the way. He had learned. Or how could one forget Paris 2010, followed by 2011??

FAA will mop up Rotterdam 2021. It is inevitable.
 
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junior74

Talk Tennis Guru
I'm a fan of his (see my photo) but his level these past two weeks has been really average. I was super optimistic last year during this time because I thought his level and focus was some of his best ever but when he got injured he lost all his progress. He's really just back to pushing right now and his opponents have been bad so it's working. I don't see him getting a career-defining breakthrough with a M 1000 win (which I feel he deserves) or a GS final or even a SF for that matter. The level is just not there right now and the style of tennis he's playing won't beat in form top 10 players. I hope I'm wrong but I'm fairly pessimistic on his chances for a great tournament in big events.

I also had high hoped for Le Monf this time last year, he looked incredible! Nowadays, he just looks bored. Pushing style is very rewarding on slower courts with this all time low level we're seing in attacking tennis.

If he gets inspired, Gael can do anything. The enigma in modern tennis, really.
 
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D

Deleted member 733170

Guest
He's one of the most consistent players around. The criticism of him not achieving more is completely unfounded. Always has been.

A likeable foot note in tennis history.

Your presence on this forum has more impact than Monfils’ presence on the tour for example.
 

guitarra

Professional
Yeah, it’s quite amazing and totally unexpected. He looks like a completely new player. Very disciplined and stopped clowning at all. Finally matured at 33? Let’s hope so cause he obviously has some tennis in him left before he calls it a day.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
Nah, he will still go down meekly against top 10 players and won't reach a slam semi.

Winning back to back titles against weak opposition doesn't prove anything.
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
Yeah, it’s quite amazing and totally unexpected. He looks like a completely new player. Very disciplined and stopped clowning at all. Finally matured at 33? Let’s hope so cause he obviously has some tennis in him left before he calls it a day.
That's what people were saying back in 2016 and then the clown SF against Novak at the USO happened.
 

guitarra

Professional
Well, last year Monfils looked like a different man too and put on a clown performance against Thiem at the FO.

I don't think Monfils will ever change.
Dominic is an extremly bad matchup for him. In fact his only loss this year was to the Austrian. But you might be right of course that he won’t change, doesn’t have much time either.
 

Mainad

Bionic Poster
He still has ambitions:

"[In the FedEx ATP Rankings, I want] to reach the fifth spot," said Monfils. "I have been sixth. [I would like] to reach the final at another Masters 1000, why not try to win one and keep the dream alive? The dream is to win a Grand Slam and that is what I am playing for and training for. It is tough, but I believe that maybe one day I will be lucky enough to win one.”

 
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The Guru

Legend
I also had high hoped for Le Monf this time last year, he looked incredible! Nowadays, he just looks bored. Pushing style is very rewarding on slower courts with this all time low level we're seing in attacking tennis.

If he gets inspired, Gael can do anything. The enigma in modern tennis, really.
Montpellier was actually a pretty fast court everyone he played was just awful.
 

Krish872007

Talk Tennis Guru
YES! This is exactly what it was. Remember Gurufils beating Nadal at Doha 2012? Next appearance for Nadal in 2014, he had gained all the knowledge to add that elusive Doha title to his resumé. Remember Gurufils beating Fed at Shanghai 2013? In 2014 Maestro came back firing, destroying Djokovic along the way. He had learned. Or how could one forget Paris 2010, followed by 2011??

FAA will mop up Rotterdam 2021. It is inevitable.

Don't forget Monfils thrashed Nadal in Doha in 2009 as well, and Rafa went on to win the AO in epic fashion that year; he was also of course 4-2 up in the 5th set of the 2012 final! Oh, so close
 

Red Rick

Bionic Poster
I'm a fan of his (see my photo) but his level these past two weeks has been really average. I was super optimistic last year during this time because I thought his level and focus was some of his best ever but when he got injured he lost all his progress. He's really just back to pushing right now and his opponents have been bad so it's working. I don't see him getting a career-defining breakthrough with a M 1000 win (which I feel he deserves) or a GS final or even a SF for that matter. The level is just not there right now and the style of tennis he's playing won't beat in form top 10 players. I hope I'm wrong but I'm fairly pessimistic on his chances for a great tournament in big events.
Sadly I agree. There's no signs of changing tactics. No real controlled aggression. Just serve+1 or grind.
 

ibbi

G.O.A.T.
Meh. I think it was the USO in 2016 where he gave an indication that this was the case, that at 30 he had finally matured and was playing more sensibly. It didn't help him against a fading Djokovic then, and he hasn't really done anything since to suggest he's ever going to genuinely, permanently turn the corner.

Winning titles at this mickey mouse time of year is indicative of next to nothing. I'm sure he had an impressive title win this time last year too, did he not?
 

mike danny

Bionic Poster
He still has ambitions:

"[In the FedEx ATP Rankings, I want] to reach the fifth spot," said Monfils. "I have been sixth. [I would like] to reach the final at another Masters 1000, why not try to win one and keep the dream alive? The dream is to win a Grand Slam and that is what I am playing for and training for. It is tough, but I believe that maybe one day I will be lucky enough to win one.”

You should start with not losing Berrettini in a slam if you want to win one.

Right, @tennis_pro? ;)
 

Phoenix1983

G.O.A.T.
Monfils's #10 ranking at the end of last season was somewhat misleading, as it was fashioned in large part because draws worked out well for him--He faced only three Top 10 players all year, a very low number of such encounters for a full season. He finished 1-2 against them.

That's a pretty shocking statistic.
 
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