Gael Monfils

[Mario]

Gael Monfils



Państwo: Francja
Miejsce zamieszkania: Trelex, Szwajcaria
Data i miejsce urodzenia: 1 września 1986, Paryż, Francja
Wzrost: 193 cm
Masa ciała: 80 kg
Gra praworęczna, oburęczny backhand
Status profesjonalny: 2004

[Mario]

Gael Monfils - osiągnięcia

Tytuły w singlu (7)
2018 - Doha
2016 - Waszyngton
2014 - Montpellier
2011 - Sztokholm
2010 - Montpellier
2009 - Metz
2005 - Sopot

Finały w singlu (20)
2017 - Eastbourne
2016 - ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Monte Carlo, Rotterdam
2015 - Marsylia
2014 - Doha
2013 - Winston-Salem, Nicea
2012 - Montpellier, Doha
2011 - Waszyngton
2010 - ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Paryż, Tokio, Stuttgart
2009 - ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Paryż, Acapulco
2008 - Wiedeń
2007 - Poertschach
2006 - Doha
2005 - Lyon, Metz

Tytuły w deblu (0)
-

Finały w deblu (0)
-

[Mario]

Gael Monfils - tytuły

#1) Sopot 2005



R32 - Juan Antonio Marin (CRC) 6-0 6-4
R16 - Juan Monaco (ARG) 6-4 7-6(5)
QF - Victor Hanescu (ROU) 6-3 6-3
SF - Potito Starace (ITA) 3-6 7-5 6-4
W - Florian Mayer (GER)7-6(6) 4-6 7-5

#2) Metz 2009



R32 - miał wolną rundę
R16 - Sebastien Grosjean (FRA) 6-1 6-1
QF - Janko Tipsarević (SRB) 6-1 4-2 krecz
SF - Richard Gasquet (FRA) 6-4 6-3
W - Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 7-6(1) 3-6 6-2

#3) Montpellier 2010



R32 - miał wolną rundę
R16 - Steve Darcis (BEL) 6-4 6-4
QF - John Isner (USA) 3-6 6-4 6-4
SF - Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA) 7-6(2) 2-6 6-4
W - Ivan Ljubicić (CRO) 6-2 5-7 6-1

[DUN I LOVE]

Gael - fikuśny to człek, spory potencjał, wielki talent, beznadziejna taktyka
Odnoszę wrażenie, że on chyba lubi wykonywać tytaniczną prace by mieć coś, co mógłby mieć mniejszym wysiłkiem. Głównie dlatego, że mimo progresu rankingowego wciąż tylko się zapowiada, trudno powiedziec, czy się kiedyś w tym seniorskim tenisie spełni.

A wróżono mu karierę bajeczną.

[sheva]

Jeden z bardziej efektownych graczy, miło sie patrzy na jego grę, jednak to jego ślizganie na hardzie powoduję u mnie ciarki na plecach, gdy Gael poprawi taktykę to może być wielki, ale na zmianie taktyki sie nie zanosi, bo Monfils to po prostu żywioł.

[jaccol55]

THE NATURAL
DEUCE
12.01.2010


Gael Monfils is one of 12 French players in the Top 100
of the South African Airways 2010 ATP Rankings.

Gael Monfils is perhaps the best athlete on the ATP World Tour. But can that athleticism be harnessed for the greater good?

Showtime and Gael Monfils is ready to go. His clothes are loud and flamboyant, his hair untamed. Tattoos dot his arms and his entire body glistens with sweat.

Game on and now he is dashing back and forth like Zorro slashing at the ball with his racquet as if it were a sword. Trouble on the far side line and Monfils has to fly across the court chasing a ball that was struck flat and hard. Arriving at the precise moment that the ball is about to bounce twice Monfils spatula hacks a forehand slice sending it like a boomerang back across the court.

Still, the problem is not solved. The ball is going one way and Monfils the other because he is sliding as if on a block of ice and not an abrasive slab of plexi-plave. Next challenge is a drop shot and Monfils punches turbo to get there on time and then he shovels the ball back across the net, yet again.

"Like a Harlem Globetrotter, he loves the show."

Clearly frustrated, his opponent commits the fatal mistake: he lobs. Monfils likes this. With shoulders turned, core primed and hips pumping leg across leg, he ignites and explodes high into the air. The smash is struck like a thunderbolt and upon returning to earth Monfils erupts with a roar that rattles the rafters. The crowd goes wild as Gael Monfils beats the hell out of his chest. Game over.

You would be forgiven for thinking that you were watching a scene from Pirates of the Caribbean, but no, you are courtside and have just witnessed a single point in a match featuring arguably the game’s most athletic player.

Monfils' eyes are wide open and he is staring straight at me. He does not flinch and it feels like you are trapped into some kind of virtual eye lockdown. Satisfied, he releases the tension and begins in a voice so soft that it is barely audible.

“I needed a change,” begins the 22 year old from the east side of Paris. “In France, the coaches want everything perfect. They want copy, they want beautiful. That is not me.”

MonfilsUp until then Monfils went through coaches like the French tear through freshly baked baguettes, one right after another. Olivier Delaitre, coach for the French Federation of Tennis (FFT), was with Monfils through the juniors and early stages of the Futures. He thinks he knows why.

“Gael has always been determined and focused on his game,” begins Delaitre. “He was young and maybe made mistakes, but he was trying every day to move up, to learn something and to improve. In my opinion, that is why he changed so often his coach. He was always seeking something more.”

The French are not easily impressed with talented junior tennis players. They have had so many: Di Pasquale, Simon, Gasquet, and Tsonga. Patrice Dominguez, technical director of the FFT, has seen them all. To him, Monfils was different.

“Of course, his physical ability was incredible, but he had the desire that made him stand out over the others. That was what impressed us at the time. And since then he has never let us down.”

Dominguez is standing courtside watching Monfils practise. It looked like any other point until Monfils struck a big inside-out forehand, sending his practice partner scrambling. Now Monfils is on the offence and fast approaching the net. Instantly, and without warning, he leaps like a panther over the net and spikes his partner’s shot into the court for a winner before the ball can cross the net. Dominguez lets out a smile as the other players stare in disbelief at the incredible display of raw athletic talent.

“Gael is a ball player,” says Dominguez. “He is simply a ball player. Like a Harlem Globetrotter, he loves the show. You know, sometimes he comes to play at Roland Garros with his friends and they don’t even know how to play tennis. But Gael does not care. He just loves to play the game. His enthusiasm attracts people.”

From his hairstyle to his shot selection to his customized car, Monfils wants to be different. He does not want to be compared to anyone. He just wants to be Gael Monfils. But he also wants something else, too: to be great. And in July of 2008 he could hear the clock starting to tick.

"He is not even close to where I want him to be. In two years time he will be a beast."

Roger Rasheed was in Australia when he got the call. It was right after Wimbledon and Monfils was on the other end asking him for help.“Gael, do you know what you are letting yourself in for, mate?” Rasheed said. “Are you sure that you are ready for this?”

Yes, he was sure. More sure than of anything else. “I wanted to be tougher,” Monfils admits. “I needed someone strong.”

What Rasheed wants, Rasheed gets and soon he had Monfils’ mind and body in overdrive. Years of training Lleyton Hewitt reinforced to him what it took to be great and now with his new charge, he had a new mission. Call it The Gael Monfils Project.

“He is not even close to where I want him to be,” Rasheed says. “In two years time he will be a beast. When we started I told him that he was Top 5 potential, but he needs to be able to play a full season. He has some incredible physical attributes, his length, and ability to stretch, and general elasticity. We have taken a lot of that sliding out of his game because if he is sliding that means he is in on the defence. Now, maybe he does it only one or two times per match.”

Monfils“I think it was a great improvement to have Roger on his side,” Dominguez says. “Roger is a tough guy in the practice session, and he has a lot of good exercises to channel Gael’s energy. But the most important thing is that Roger realised that for Gael to improve his game, Gael would have to improve his perception of the game.”

“First thing I said to him when I got off the plane is, 'From now on you stand here',” Rasheed says, pointing at the baseline. “If you look at his tennis before, he was just defensive. Can he win a Grand Slam defending? No. Can he win a Masters 1000? No. He has to play more offence. And he has the weapons to do that.”

While moulding the will, Rasheed had to be careful to not break Monfils’ warrior spirit. “It [style] is part of me,” Monfils claims. “When I am on the court, my style is my nature, my instinct. I love to run. When I am on the court, my parents always tell me that [my running] is a gift from God.”

Other players are taking notice of the improved Monfils. Close friend and countryman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is impressed. “Gael is more consistent now. Roger helped him structure his game well and showed him to move forward.”

“Roger has helped me to become more professional,” Monfils acknowledges. “He loves to work and he takes care of the details.”

On paper, it does not look an extraordinary result: Gael Monfils defeats Dennis Istomin 7-6, 7-6 in the first round of the Proton Malaysian Open. But what is not written down is that Monfils arrived in Kuala Lumpur just hours before he was set to play. No hotel, no sleep and no practice. Just a 27-minute warm-up.

He had the perfect excuse to lose, and who would say anything? Did he not just win Metz three days ago? But Monfils is in Malaysia and hungry for more. Clearly fatigued and suffering from jet lag, he is running on fumes. Still, he is scrapping for every ball, swooping around the court like a bird of prey. Just one problem: Istomin knows Monfils is not 100 per cent and he is gunning for an upset.

"My parents always tell me that it is a gift from God."

Though he is losing, Monfils is sticking to the game plan and attempting to control the baseline. Except on this day Istomin is painting the lines with every stroke. Monfils is down a break and Istomin has the first of two set points on his serve. It is gut-check time for Gael Monfils. He looks up at Rasheed, takes a few deep breaths and nods his head up and down.

He refuses to give in, there has been too much work, too much sacrifice, and he and Roger have invested too much to go down without a fight. Like Rocky Balboa, Monfils takes Istomin’s best punches and refuses to be knocked out. He heaves a forehand here, chops a slice there, all the while Istomin is ripping the ball side to side, jerking Monfils back and forth so much that he is earning frequent flyer miles.

MonfilsSomehow, Monfils breaks, but he is too tired to celebrate, instead he lifts his head up and looks to Rasheed. No words were spoken between the coach and player. There was no need, for the look that Monfils gave Rasheed said much more than any words could express.

Monfils’ last match of the 2009 season was a three-set thriller versus Novak Djokovic in the final of the BNP Paribas Masters, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament in Bercy. Down a set and a break, he looked to have no chance, so well was Djokovic playing. Then Monfils dug deep and summoned up all of his fight, all of his determination and levelled the match. Monfils lost the match in a third set tie-break, but on this day he won the respect of all those who ever doubted his toughness.

In many ways, Monfils is France’s prodigal son. The special one forever favoured over the others because of his immense talent. But Monfils rebelled against the French method, and left the country. Might he return to Paris one day to hoist the Coupe de Mousquetaires high over his head, giving France the hero they so desperately seek? Patrice Dominguez thinks so. “I think that Gael will be our guy to bring France a
Grand Slam trophy,” Dominguez says.

For as long as he cares to remember, Monfils has had to listen to people tell him how talented he is and how many opportunities he has been given. All that just piled on the pressure and raised expectations to unrealistic levels. Now, they are saying something different about him. They are saying how tough he has become and that now there is plenty of substance to back up the showmanship. Monfils like this.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/DEUCE- ... nfils.aspx

[asiek]

Johannesburg: piłkarska wycieczka Monfilsa

Francuz Gael Monfils, najwyżej rozstawiony tenisista w turnieju ATP w Johannesburgu (z pulą nagród 442,5 tys. dol.), miał okazję odwiedzić dom Nelsona Mandeli w Soweto oraz stadion na tegoroczne piłkarskie mistrzostwa świata.

Monfils, sklasyfikowany na 13. miejscu w rankingu ATP World Tour, jest fanem futbolu, co widać nawet podczas jego treningów na korcie, gdy często żongluje małymi, żółtymi piłkami. Zresztą jako młody chłopiec ćwiczył regularnie w juniorskiej drużynie, zanim zdecydował się na zawodową grę w tenisa.

Organizatorzy imprezy w RPA umożliwili mu wycieczkę do Soweto i wejście na murawę stadionu, wybudowanego w 1987 roku. To na nim doszło do pierwszego publicznego wystąpienia Mandeli po wyjściu z więzienia w 1990 roku.

W ostatnich latach trybuny tego obiektu powiększono dwukrotnie, tak by podczas tegorocznych MŚ mogły pomieścić 94 700 widzów. Podczas wizyty Monfilsowi towarzyszyła eskorta policyjna, a tenisista miał okazję chwilę pobiegać za piłką na boisku, a także zwiedzić stadion w towarzystwie jego dyrektora Johna Grobbelara.

- To ogromny stadion i robi wielkie wrażenie. Byłem kiedyś na Stade de France w Paryżu, ale myślę, że ten jest nieco większy. Z chęcią bym tu przyjechał w czasie mistrzostw świata, ale wszystko będzie zależeć od mojego planu startów. Niestety finał pokrywa się chyba z terminem Wimbledonu - powiedział Francuz, który pierwszy tytuł w cyklu ATP wywalczył w sopockim Orange Prokom Open w 2006 roku.

- Jestem wielkim fanem futbolu, ale nie mam ulubionego zespołu. Po prostu lubię oglądać dobrą grę. Jak byłem młodszy sam grałem w piłkę, choć była to raczej amatorska zabawa. Mój tata był zawodowym piłkarzem, więc nie było w tym przypadku - dodał.

Wprost ze stadionu Monfils udał się na zachodnie przedmieścia Soweto, do domu przy ulicy Vilakazi, gdzie od 1946 roku mieszkała rodzina Mandeli.

- Wizyta w tym miejscu i możliwość poznania szczegółów dotyczących życia człowieka, który zmienił historię, to dla mnie niesamowite odczucia i jedno z najważniejszych doświadczeń w moim życiu. Kiedyś spróbuję to przywieźć rodziców, żeby mogli to wszystko sami zobaczyć - powiedział Monfils.

http://sport.wp.pl/kat,1840,title,Johan ... omosc.html

[Jacuszyn]

Monfils plans to fulfill his passion for poker

Gael Monfils won't reign in his passion for poker despite criticisms that the flamboyant Frenchman might be getting distracted from his day job of tennis.

The No. 18 showed he's all over his game, reaching the quarter-finals of the Madrid Masters for a showdown with Rafael Nadal after coming back from a hand injury and stomach illness last week which prevented him from playing Estoril. .

Monfils plays poker so frequently online that he has recently been signed to a modest sponsorship contract by a website, PokerStars.

The French player also recently participated in a hands-on tournament at the elite Monte Carlo casino and says he will continue to mix gaming and tennis as he pleases. "I've been playing poker for a very very long time.

"Since no one knew about it, no one was breaking my balls. And now suddenly I hear some journalists and other negative people trying to make me feel guilty.

"If poker is a passion of mine, I don’t see why people should give me a hard time. In fact it makes me laugh more than anything else," said the 23-year-old.

"I can do whatever I want with my free time. Some people stay hours watching DVDs to relax, I spend hours playing poker. This doesn’t prevent me from taking my tennis career seriously."

http://www.tennistalk.com/en/news/20100 ... _for_poker

[Jacuszyn]

If Gaël Monfils were a football player...

Gaël Monfils likes football. Not surprising, given that his father is a former player. With a mere three weeks until the World Cup starts, we decided to ask the No.13 seed all about the beautiful game…

Who do you think will be the biggest surprise at the World Cup?
I have a good feeling about Australia. Nobody’s picking them, but I’m pretty optimistic.

What about the biggest disappointment?
I don’t think there’ll be one. All the favourites will play well.

Speaking of favourites, who are yours?
France, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Germany and England.

Who would you pay good money to see in South Africa?
The French team.

What’s the most overrated team?
None of them are overrated this year, I think the rankings are pretty accurate and that will be borne out in the results.

Who is your favourite player?
My Dad.

What were your favourite experiences as a footballer?
Firstly when I played with the Les Lilas youth team, and secondly when I trained with Lausanne under-21s in Switzerland.

Who is your favourite manager?
Arsène Wenger.

How much would you pay for your favourite player’s shirt?
Nothing, I’d just ask him for it [laughs].

If you could play 90 minutes with any team, which would it be?
France.

Which is your favourite football stadium?
To be honest, I’m not really worried about things like that. I like the game, and the stadium just happens to be where matches are played.

What's the best goal you’ve ever seen?
The one that Thierry [Henry] scored for Arsenal against Manchester United [in 2000]. He got the ball with his back to goal, flicked it up, spun round and rifled it into the top corner.

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/ ... 11631.html

[Jacuszyn]

"I'm more of an artist"


In six years as a pro, Monfils has become better known for showboat shots than Tour titles (two).

The cycle is starting again. Gael Monfils has pulled out of another tournament with an injury. He'd flown to Miami with hopes his left hand would feel strong enough to play the Sony Ericsson Open. But the pain is too great to ignore. So at 10:30 on a late-March morning, while word of his withdrawal makes the rounds of players and fans, and while his agent schedules an MRI and a flight to Paris, Monfils is sitting in a café on the 25th floor of the Conrad hotel, narrating the evolution of his game while watching YouTube clips of himself in action.

A laptop perched on his knees, Monfils (MON-feece) smiles after clicking "360 Degree Rotation Smash." Dressed in a white windbreaker, shorts and T-shirt, he says, "This is my favorite." In the clip, he launches high into the air, spins and unloads on a lob with a crushing overhead. "One time I need to show it in a match. For me, it's fun."

This season, the Tour has been anything but fun for the 23-year-old French star-in-waiting. After ascending to No. 9 in the world last spring, he's fallen to No. 17, his recent string of frustrating finishes punctuated by a second-round loss at the French to No. 92 Fabio Fognini, then a third-round, straight-sets Wimbledon meltdown against No. 26 Lleyton Hewitt (Monfils double-faulted on match point). In January, he was bumped in the third round of the Aussie by No. 28 John Isner. Injuries, meanwhile, have forced him out of five events.

Upon learning that Monfils had pulled out of the Sony Ericsson, Roger Federer expressed the feeling of many of the Tour's top players: "I always think it's disappointing when he's injured. Gael is fun to watch but also fun to play against; not just because you win or lose, but because it's exciting."

With increasing frequency, Monfils' performances haven't met the expectations of opponents or fans. Once a rising star whom no player wanted in his half of the draw, Monfils, thanks in part to his approach to the game, has lately played steppingstone for others on the climb.

And that's a shame. Fans and foes love his leave-it-all-on-the-court style of play. But his game also holds him back; his body is simply unable to handle the pounding. Over the past three years, he's suffered injuries to his back, right shoulder, left wrist and, most naggingly, left knee. "His potential is unbelievable," says Rafael Nadal. "But similar to me, when you play very aggressive with that flexibility you have more chances to get injured." Adds Andy Murray: "Gael's athleticism is incredible. He can jump high, hit incredibly hard and do ­pretty much anything. He's very, very talented. But you need to be playing if you want to improve in the rankings."

And so Monfils has arrived at a crucial point in his career: Since 1990, only nine men have won their first Grand Slam on the dark side of their 24th birthday. Unless he turns his game soon, Monfils could end up as another Tour journeyman who spent his career chasing potential.

Perou"I love tennis, but the main thing in my life, is life," says Monfils.

Not that the journey won't be interesting. Monfils is so magnetic that even listening to him describe his greatest hits is entertaining. And in six years as a pro, Monfils has developed a devoted, multiculti base of fans drawn to his lively personality and knack for brilliant shots. At the 2008 French Open, where he reached the semifinals ­before falling to Federer, Monfils rocked the Roland Garros crowd with Soulja Boy's "Superman" dance after wins. Sporting an auburn Afro and the nickname Sliderman, Monfils can steal a better-known opponent's crowd advantage with spellbinding moves toward seemingly impossible returns, the kind that pull soulful ooohs of appreciation from the stands. He worked his magic against Nadal at last year's U.S. Open with several miraculous gets in a 30-stroke rally, which he won with a sliding, whip forehand down the line. The effect: Think Jimi Hendrix playing guitar with his teeth. "Monfils is a special player, a different player, a spectacular player," says Nadal. "He is very good for tennis."

But spectacular comes with a physical cost. Monfils' lean, muscular, 6'4'' physique is built for power and agility, not sliding. "He is like a race car," says one French journalist. "Strong, but fragile." His coach of two years, Roger Rasheed, has pushed Monfils to fortify his build. "He's a bit loose in his joints," Rasheed says. "There's a hardening of the muscles and frame that he's doing now, legitimate gym work that a boxer would do. He needs a hard body to give a base and more control."

Most tennis players slide on clay courts, to stop, set up for a return or change direction. But Monfils has mastered the technique on hard courts. The screech of his shoes when he slides on concrete can sound like fingernails on a chalkboard, but he swears the move is painless. Either way, a Monfils slide is a marvel of mechanics, not unlike the windup of 5'11'', 170-pound Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum, which produces 101 mph rockets. "Monfils has very good flexibility and timing," says Rafael Bahamonde, a professor of human performance and biomechanics at Indiana University. "Not creating much friction allows him to slide on hard courts. But getting into that position and back out very quickly can put tremendous stress on the ankle, knee and hip joints. Is it worth the gamble when the odds of getting a point from that position are pretty slim?" It's the kind of question all sorts of elite athletes face. Consider Cowboys running back Marion ­Barber. He's a power runner whose instinct for plowing into defenders helps explain why he's not in the 1,000-yard club. "We're always talking about being smart and choosing when to step out of bounds to avoid taking unnecessary punishment," says Dallas running backs coach Skip Peete.

Despite the strain that sliding puts on Monfils' body, he has no intention of giving up his signature move. "People say, 'You slide too much,'" Monfils says, affecting an offended air. "I try to change a bit, just to see the difference, and it's very bad. The faster and easier thing is to slide. To me, it's a gift, it's natural. It may be different, but I'm me. I'm more of an artist. I create because I don't want to lose, and the ball is dead only on the second bounce."

And this is what makes Monfils one of the most extraordinary -- and maddening -- players in tennis. He's mercurial to a fault, willing to pound his body in victory or defeat. One senses in both his play and attitude that he's embracing something he should be fighting, and fighting something he needs to embrace.

This rebelliousness, for lack of a better word, may stem from his formative years as a player. A native Parisian, Monfils was introduced to tennis at age 2 by his parents, who played on weekends. His dad, Rufin, is from Guadeloupe; mother Sylvette hails from Martinique. Father coached son until Gael, at 13, earned a scholarship to a Russian tennis center. He returned to Paris a year later and joined the French Tennis Federation, where he trained and competed with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon -- together they were dubbed the "New Musketeers" by the French media. With legendary French showman Yannick Noah as a lodestar, Monfils resisted efforts to change his game, and his success as a junior (Australian, French and Wimbledon titles; a No. 1 ranking) encouraged him to rely on instinct at the expense of technique and fundamentals. After he turned pro in 2004, however, he struggled, no longer able to win with power and flashy shots. Although he often had more physical talent than an opponent, he lost matches because opponents out-thought him. Heading into the 2008 French, Monfils was ranked No. 32 and had never advanced past the Round of 16 at a Slam. But after his impressive run to the semis at Roland Garros, he decided to adjust his game. He sought Rasheed's help in July 2008.

PerouMonfils has the potential to turn tennis on its head, if ony his head didn't get in the way.

"I saw a player with legitimate weapons and a lot of raw talent who hadn't blossomed yet," Rasheed says. "I drew a line in the sand and said, If you want to be ranked 40 or 50, you can be creative and artistic. But if you want success at the Grand Slam level, there's a price." Monfils signed on. "Having someone to drive me was good for me," he says. Rasheed, who has the demeanor of a friendly drill sergeant, set out to lock Monfils into a more structured game plan. "I said, 'Look, you've got 4,000 tricks and I'm taking away 3,000,'" he says. "Have your flair, but if you're too loose, your game will break down. Your first goal is a W. People remember players who win, not how many times the crowd goes, 'Wow.'"

The improvement was almost immediate. "All of a sudden, people were actually concerned because Gael Monfils was a bit more switched on," Rasheed says, noting that Monfils jumped to No. 14 by November 2008. "That created locker room presence and on-court presence. He became a threat. Before, it was like, Well, I wonder what we're going to get today."

Although Rasheed does not favor sliding on hard courts, he concedes that selective use of the move allows Monfils to return shots he otherwise might not reach. Coach and player have reached a compromise. "Gael now does that about a fifth as much as he used to," says Rasheed. "When you play all defensive tennis, that's when you're sliding." Rasheed has also pushed Monfils to be more aggressive, to dictate points with his big forehand and volley from inside the baseline. "He's too ­patient in the points," says Novak Djokovic, who beat Monfils in the Paris final last November. "He needs to go more for his shots. That's where the players take control over him."

The other area where Monfils often cedes control? Upstairs. It's no secret that Monfils flusters easily, causing his game to unravel. "The mental is the key," says Rasheed. "That's the thing he's gonna try and keep under control. He's very youthful with his development as a top tennis player." Monfils knows that tempering his emotions may yield more than harnessing his physical skills. "I need to take more confidence in my weapons, and the difference is that the top guys have a little bit extra," he says. "Sometimes I can be a little bit down. I need to believe a little bit more, and then I will be a top player."

Away from tennis, Monfils seeks out hip-hop mixtapes from deejay friends and knows the best sushi spots at every Tour stop -- downing 30 pieces (California or salmon) per sitting. His reddish-brown 'fro, upon closer inspection, is actually a mix of tightly coiled curls that he twirls ­absentmindedly while talking. He lives in Nyon, Switzerland, with his Australian girlfriend, Chelsea, and says he's happy to come home from practice, cook and discuss everything but his job. "I love tennis, but the main thing in my life, is life," he says.

That attitude has helped deflect some of the pressure put upon him by his country's rabid thirst for somebody, anybody, to be the first French Grand Slam champ since Noah won Roland Garros in 1983. To do so, he'll have to become more ruthless about his goals, take responsibility, show conviction. He knows players such as Murray and Nadal are ticking every box, doing everything they can to improve their games. "Gael is learning to put that more into his world," says Rasheed. "He doesn't want his peers to say, 'Gael, he was super talented, but ...' He wants to remove the buts."

Does he have the necessary self-discipline? "I think I can change," Monfils says, sitting a little straighter in his seat at the Conrad. "I can get to high-level maturity. But I want to do what I want to do, and I want to be the No. 1. It's my dream to win a Slam. I'm very glad for advice and I will listen carefully. But I take advice from people, and I mix it up. I turn it in my way."

Spoken like a true artist.

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/tennis ... id=5376000

[Jacuszyn]

Gaël Monfils: Dzięki charakterowi mogę wykorzystywać talent

Preferując tak spektakularny jak Gaël Monfils styl gry w tenisa, trudno uniknąć kontuzji. Francuz ma ich za sobą mnóstwo, ale niczego zmieniać nie zamierza. - Sport to hazard. Jeżeli nie wkładasz w to co robisz całej swojej duszy, kończysz marnie - mówi.

- To Bóg sprawił, że jestem jaki jestem i zaakceptowałem to - tłumaczy znany ze skoków, rzutów i upadków Monfils w rozmowie z "L'Équipe". - Myślę wręcz, że moje życie poza kortem to także część talentu. Moja osobowość: to dzięki niej talent się wykorzystuje lub nie.

W Nowym Jorku Monfils celuje w swój najlepszy tegoroczny rezultat w Wielkim Szlemie, w którym nie potrafi jak na razie przeskoczyć 1/16 finału. Wspólnie z Rogerem Federerem "gościli" na korcie Thierry'ego Henry, nowego napastnika Red Bulls. W I rundzie US Open Monfils zagra z kwalifikantem Robertem Kendrickiem, a w III rundzie może spotkać się z Andym Roddickiem.

http://www.sportowefakty.pl/tenis/2010/ ... ac-talent/

[Joao]

US Open [2010], postać 8. dnia: Gaël Monfils

Niezwykle efektowny i wyjątkowo skuteczny Gaël Monfils (ATP 19) to postać ósmego dnia US Open. Francuz w bratobójczym pojedynku pokonał Richarda Gasquet (ATP 38) zapewniając sobie miejsce w ćwierćfinale. Był to pierwszy w erze otwartej francuski pojedynek w 1/8 finału US Open.

Gaël chce tworzyć zapierające dech w piersiach widowiska, dawać radość kibicom na korcie i przed telewizorami, dlatego nie zmieni swojego stylu gry, choć co jakiś czas odzywają się u niego problemy ze stawami kolanowymi. Można było drżeć o jego zdrowie, gdy raz za razem ślizgał się po betonie na Flushing Meadows. Biegający jak szalony do każdej piłki Francuz za pomocą jednego forhendu potrafi przejść z głębokiej defensywy do ataku
. Znany też jest z pozytywnego nastawienia, nawet gdy sytuacja na korcie jest dla niego bardzo niekorzystna oraz ze spontanicznego celebrowania radości po zdobytych punktach. Potrafi tańczyć na korcie bawiąc się z kibicami, przez co jest jednym z ich ulubieńców na całym świecie. Ale z tego też wynika jego największa wada, częste utraty koncentracji. Także i w meczu z Gasquet mu się to przytrafiło, ale nie pozwolił sobie odebrać seta, choć w partii III przegrywał 2:5.

Monfils wykańcza fizycznie

- To ja jestem gościem, to ja jestem liderem - chciał udowodnić swojemu przyjacielowi Gasquet. - Chciałem poddać go testowi
fizycznemu. Miał wiedzieć, że jeżeli podejdzie bliżej, to ja zawsze będę gotowy - powiedział drugi singlista Francji, który wcale nie czuje się liderem swoich rodaków w Nowym Jorku.

Monfilsowi nie przeszkadza nawierzchnia DecoTurf, po której próbuje ślizgać się jak na mączce. - Mogę grać
wszędzie - przyznał półfinalista Roland Garros 2008. Wygrał bez straty seta, ale obronił w sumie trzy setbole. Drugi set, szansa dla Gasquet: - Widziałem, że nie ma już tej głowy. Po obronie tej piłki wiedziałem, że jak go przycisnę, to będzie przełamanie i miałem rację. Chciałem złamać go fizycznie, a dodatkowo mentalnie - powiedział Monfils.

Chce być bardziej ofensywny: - To następny krok, następny poziom, na który chcę wejść. Muszę użyć swoich umiejętności do tego, by bardziej atakować. Choć oczywiście z moją fizycznością preferuję poruszanie się po linii końcowej. O ćwierćfinale z Đokoviciem (bilans 0-4): - Znam Novaka perfekcyjnie. Pokonał mnie dwa razy na mojej ziemi, więc czas na mnie.

Monfils w juniorskiej karierze w 2003 roku zaliczył finał prestiżowego turnieju Orange Bowl (w finale przegrał z Marcosem Baghdatisem), a w kolejnym sezonie wygrał trzy z czterech wielkoszlemowych turniejów: Australian Open, Roland Garros i Wimbledon. Jeszcze w 2004 roku w Metz debiutował w turnieju rangi ATP i doszedł tam do ćwierćfinału przegrywając z Gasquet. Rok później w Sopocie zdobył swój pierwszy tytuł w ATP World Tour i znalazł się w czołowej 50 rankinguATP. Choć przez pierwsze dwa miesiące sezonu 2008 pauzował z powodu kontuzji kolana w Roland Garros doszedł do półfinału notując najlepszy start w Wielkim Szlemie. W 2009 roku wygrał 42 mecze (to jego najlepszy sezonowy rekord), w Roland Garros zaliczył drugi wielkoszlemowy ćwierćfinał, w Metz zdobył drugi tytuł, w Paryżu zanotował pierwszy finał w ATP World Tour Masters 1000 oraz zadebiutował w czołowej 10 rankingu ATP (w lutym). W lipcu 2010 roku osiągnął 10. w karierze finał turnieju ATP.

http://www.sportowefakty.pl/tenis/2010/ ... l-monfils/

[jaccol55]

The Last Word: ATP No. 12, Gael Monfils


Monfils was a star for the French Davis Cup team
and played some of his best tennis in his home
country, winning Montpellier and reaching the Bercy final.

Best of 2010
The Frenchman played his strongest tennis of the season in front of adoring fans at the Paris Masters. The acrobatic 24-year-old was given a murderous draw to the final, yet he managed to beat Fernando Verdasco, Andy Murray and Roger Federer in succession before losing to Robin Soderling.

Worst of 2010
Monfils contended for titles from the beginning of the season to the end—including the Davis Cup final—though he stumbled a bit in late May and early June. Monfils was upset by Potito Starace in Nice, Fabio Fognini at Roland Garros (remember that match?) and Rainer Schuettler at Queen’s Club. In his next tournament, Wimbledon, Monfils suffered a third-round exit at the hands of Lleyton Hewitt.

Year in Review
Monfils won 46 matches in 2010, though he only had one title to show for it, a 250 in Montpellier. Still, he was repeatedly in contention. He reached three finals, two semifinals and made the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open.

Looking beyond the numbers, Monfils showed more diversity in his game this year. The sculpted Frenchman, who at times can rely too heavily on his admittedly exceptional defensive skills, showed an aggressive side late in the season, at Montpellier, Paris and the Davis Cup final, where he gave France an early 1-0 lead. His serve matured into a more consistent and lethal weapon. Combined with his explosiveness and competitive nature, Monfils showed how dangerous he can be.

See for Yourself
Monfils’ signature win in 2010 was his dramatic defeat of Federer in the Paris semis. The Frenchman saved an astonishing five match points and won a deciding tiebreaker to reach the final:



The Last Word
Monfils has proven that he can beat the best, but he’s yet to win a high-profile tournament—a significant blemish on his record. But that should be the next step, taken next season. Look for Monfils to break through and win a Masters event in 2011, pushing him into the Top 10.

—Brad Kallett

http://www.tennis.com/articles/template ... 3&zoneid=9

[Barty]

2010 w liczbach

Ranking: 12
Turnieje: 1 (Montpellier)
Finały: 3 (Stuttgart, Tokio, Paryż-Bercy)
Mecze: 46-20
Zarobki: $1,303,546

[jonathan]

Monfils - taki typ showmana: ciągła zabawa, nieliczenie się z ryzykiem i momentami genialny tenis.

[jaccol55]

"I’d go to a rap concert with Svetlana Kuznetsova"



Gael, which player would you choose…

To share a good bottle of wine with?
I don't drink, so that puts a damper on things. But if it was to share a Magnum of Fanta with, I'd choose Jo (Tsonga).

To take to your favourite restaurant?
Can I say Jo again? No? Well then, I'll say Juan Monaco. He's such a cool guy, and so generous I'd be sure to have a good time.

To accompany you to the Cannes film festival?
I need a girl! Or multiple girls! I think the best would be to show up on the red carpet with five of them.

To go out on the town with in Las Vegas?
Dustin Brown. I love that guy, he's so cool. It would be incredible to go wild in Vegas with him.

As master of ceremonies for your wedding?
Well, if it's a wedding along the same lines as this interview, Mike Llodra, of course.

Never to train with?
I can't think of anybody. Lopez said Karlovic? No, I think it's good to train with someone who has a big serve. It's always useful to work on your return.

To take to a football match?
Richard Gasquet. He's a fan of Paris Saint German, so it'd be at their home stadium, the Parc des Princes.

To interview if you were a journalist?
(He thinks for a while). The Williams sisters. I know them a bit, but I'm sure they're really interesting. They're quite mysterious, so it would be good to ask them a few questions.

To take fishing?
Jo (Tsonga).

To take to see your favourite band?
Hmmm…I really wouldn't mind going to see some rap with Svetlana (Kutznetsova). She's a great chick, she's fantastic. I love her.

To play mixed doubles with?
Too much choice! I prefer to leave that one open.

To go and see stand-up comedy with?
Andrea Petkovic. She's a really nice girl, she's always smiling and laughing.

To open a bar with?
France's Davis Cup team.

To be your spokesperson?
Gilles Simon, he never stops talking.

To hit on girls with?
Jo, again. He's not the biggest flirt but we have an excellent track record (he laughs).

http://www.rolandgarros.com/en_FR/news/ ... 58389.html

[jaccol55]

04.07.2011

Najwyższa pozycja w karierze: 7

[jaccol55]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df0ty_js ... r_embedded[/youtube]

[DUN I LOVE]

Podczas turnieju w Waszyngtonie Monfils rozegrał swój 14 finał turnieju ATP. Gael poniósł 11 porażkę w takim meczu, co nie poprawia z pewnością opinii o jego grze w najważniejszych meczach turnieju.

Gael Monfils - przegrane finały (11)
2011 (1) Waszyngton
2010 (3) ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Paryż-Bercy, Tokio, Stuttgart
2009 (2) ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Paryż - Bercy, Acapulco
2008 (1) Wiedeń
2007 (1) Poertschach
2006 (1) Doha
2005 (2) Lyon, Metz

[Ranger]

An Interview With: Gael Monfils



Q. Have you ever been so well received by a crowd on losing a match? Everybody was standing up, standing ovation.

GAËL MONFILS: I mean, maybe, yes, one time. But this one was very good. It was like very lovely. It was a good feeling. Even though I lost the match, it was a good feeling.

Q. Did you ever think with all the support you were getting out there, This is a little bit like Roland Garros?

GAËL MONFILS: Yeah, it can have. But is totally different. In Roland Garros I get both my parents, my family. It's missing a couple important people. But the crowd was very good behind me. You know, it was like a great feeling.

Q. How disappointed are you in the result?

GAËL MONFILS: It's not bad, you know. I think I'm disappointed because I lost the match. But, you know, I think I give my best. Today I have a big fighter against me. I lost the match on a few points. But, you know, I take only the good side of this loss. So I'm disappointed because for sure I want to go deep on the tournament, but I think I made a great game. I think it's tennis. Today is a good day for me. It's my birthday. My mom was there. You know, all the time my mom say, You win, you lose, you give your best. I think today I sort of smile at my mom even though I lost, so I was quite happy.

Q. Will you celebrate your birthday tonight?

GAËL MONFILS: Yes, of course. My mom is there. It's not often she comes in a tournament with me. So, yeah, I will even though the loss, you know, is happen. Is life. I will keep going, focus, practice. You know, I think I see a lot of good thing on this match. I'm not worried. I'm happy. I mean, I lost. It's okay. But I'm happy the way I was.

Q. You excite crowds. It's very positive. It's very good. You're diving for balls on a hard court. You're acting like you're swimming, plunging into the asphalt. It's great if you're a spectator. How tough is it for you?

GAËL MONFILS: It's really tough because I know all the people think I'm like elastic. You know, I'm diving. If I stay a little bit longer on the floor, they're like, He's acting. I'm not like X Man, you know. For 30 seconds I hurt. But maybe something is missing upstairs. So I'm going back then. Doesn't matter. I think I'm kind of blessed because I never really hurt myself. So I think I'm gifted on that.

Q. There was one incredible dive fairly early.

GAËL MONFILS: I think some things just switch off in my mind. I just see the ball and I'm like, Well, you have to do it, and then I dive. Then, you know, I forgot is like hard court, clay court, grass. I do the move and then see what happen.

Q. Do you ever say, Oh, no, once you take off in the dive?

GAËL MONFILS: Every time you're like, Oh, no. I know the dive is so good for two second. Then you're like, Oh, shit, is still hard. And sometime you're in the shower, dive, like you first crash. The shower is tough. Happens.

Q. Can you ever take diving lessons for Boris Becker or you just do it yourself?

GAËL MONFILS: I think I did myself. I think I can give lesson because I think I'm diving like more than them.

Źródło: http://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/interv ... 30264.html