GAEL MONFILS: I still believe the score is a bit tough on me. I had my chances, but I didn't convert them.
Q. For example, the breakpoint at 3‑All?
GAEL MONFILS: I had two, but mainly during the rallies I was getting too excited. My dropshots were not very good.
However, I played good tennis. He played the important points better than I did. I was not far behind.
Q. Precisely, didn't you spend too much energy during the first six games?
GAEL MONFILS: No, usually I start off pretty bad. So if I'm able to attack from the start, it's even better. But what happened is I was too excited, I rushed too much, my dropshots were just average.
Q. Were you impressed by his topspin and by the way he moves?
GAEL MONFILS: He does good topspins, he runs well, but I wasn't impressed.
Q. Is it better to play him on clay or on other surfaces?
GAEL MONFILS: It's everywhere the same.
Q. Do you believe you had the right shots to bother him?
GAEL MONFILS: Yes, I even could have won.
Q. Can you draw some lessons from this match for the French Open ?
GAEL MONFILS: Yes. For a first round, I played a solid match. I hadn't played on clay for one year. To tell you the truth, before the season, I was a bit afraid because I got injured last year.
Q. Were you bothered by the light?
GAEL MONFILS: I wasn't seeing very well. That's why I asked them to put the lights on.
Q. When did you start playing again on clay?
GAEL MONFILS: About a week ago.
Q. During that match, did you learn that against a player like Nadal you can enjoy yourself?
GAEL MONFILS: Yes, but in better conditions.
Q. At the end it started raining. Did you believe that you would have a chance to recuperate?
GAEL MONFILS: Only rats think that.
Q. What is your program going to be from now on?
GAEL MONFILS: I have to discuss it. I'm going to Barcelona to play the quallies.
Q. You're not going to do physical training?
GAEL MONFILS: I have to discuss it. I'm playing well. Maybe I should play qualifications. Everything will depend on what is going to happen this week and in doubles.
Thanks for posting these interviews, Ivan and Recca. I like reading what the up and comers have to say. They are both very objective and matter-of-fact. I like that better than fluff and unrealistic expectations.
As I was reading everyone's responses to the "not impressed" response from Gael, I started thinking this might have been a mistake in translation. It could have been a question about Gael being intimidated by Rafa's game. Then the response of not being intimidated would make more sense much like when they asked Rafa in Miami if he was intimidated by Roger's game. I think all players are capable of respecting their opponents' games without being intimidated. Just a thought...
Thanks for posting these interviews, Ivan and Recca. I like reading what the up and comers have to say. They are both very objective and matter-of-fact. I like that better than fluff and unrealistic expectations.
As I was reading everyone's responses to the "not impressed" response from Gael, I started thinking this might have been a mistake in translation. It could have been a question about Gael being intimidated by Rafa's game. Then the response of not being intimidated would make more sense much like when they asked Rafa in Miami if he was intimidated by Roger's game. I think all players are capable of respecting their opponents' games without being intimidated. Just a thought...
I like Gael. He was pretty open and funny in his interview which i find more interesting than the usual. The journalist asked a leading question, he could've easily asked' what do you think of his game?' instead and probably would've elicited a similar response minus the 'not impressed' that some people took issue with. It's not unlike for them to try to goad the players into praising their opponents (Rogi and Agassi), and if you don't go along, sometimes you come off as 'arrogant.' Anyway, kudos to Gael for being himself...and of course to Rafa for being his cute, diplomatic self.
are you saying that someone handed Gael his 4 Slams on every surface? :shrug: as far as i could tell, he worked for them. and damn hard too. and it is his incredible success in the juniors that opened the doors to wildcards that he richly deserves. in my opinion.
I didnt quite get the rats comment, but it sounds funny anyway :lol:
Its stupid how people read interviews and try to pick apart every little comment, trying to see where they can be called arrogant. It is good for players to have some personality on the tour, instead of giving the same stock answers.
I think the question about whether he was impressed was taken to mean something like 'were you in awe of him' or 'were you intimidated'. He couldnt have possibly meant that Nadal was not good at running or topspin, because he said in the same sentence that he was.
I read the original interview in French (in L'equipe) and a lot of stuff is lost in the translation. In fact, when he says that he's not impressed, he says that it's because "he knows him since the juniors". And he adds that maybe people who just discover him must be impressed.
That's really strange, its not even the same amount of questions. But it must be the same interview because there is the rats comment.
Whether it was lost in translation or not I don't know, but while Gael might not be impressed, I definitely was. I only saw the first set but there were times where you could just see Monfils almost cracking up after a point where he hit another 5 great shots and saw them come back deeper and deeper until Nadal got the control of the point again. Nadal was just relentless. There was a game Monfils led 40-0 and ended up in a game that went to about 4 deuces and lasted about 15 minutes and you could almost see the draining effect it was having on him.
I read the original interview in French (in L'equipe) and a lot of stuff is lost in the translation. In fact, when he says that he's not impressed, he says that it's because "he knows him since the juniors". And he adds that maybe people who just discover him must be impressed.
Yes, I read the interview in "L'Équipe" too and it sounds quite different. He's very self-confident, as he always is, but by far not so arrogant.
"(...)
– Que pensez-vous de l’Espagnol, qui prend une dimension importante sur le circuit ?
– Il court bien. Nadal, je le connais depuis que je suis tout petit. Alors, il m’impressionne moins qu’il n’impressionne les autres. Ses balles sont normales. J’espère qu’on rejouera de gros matches ensemble, mais dans des meilleures conditions. Parce qu’en début de match, avec la luminosité qu’il y avait, je ne voyais vraiment pas bien.
– Avec la pluie qui s’est mise à tomber à la fin de votre match, vous n’avez pas été tenté de faire durer en espérant une interruption ?
– Ce sont les rats qui pensent ça !
– Pas trop déçu, donc...
– Non. Je ne pensais pas arriver à l’aise si vite sur terre battue. Ça faisait quand même un an que je n’avais pas joué sur cette surface. Et même si je ne le disais pas trop, j’avais quand même une petite appréhension..."
Yes, I read the interview in "L'Équipe" too and it sounds quite different. He's very self-confident, as he always is, but by far not so arrogant.
"(...)
– Que pensez-vous de l’Espagnol, qui prend une dimension importante sur le circuit ?
– Il court bien. Nadal, je le connais depuis que je suis tout petit. Alors, il m’impressionne moins qu’il n’impressionne les autres. Ses balles sont normales. J’espère qu’on rejouera de gros matches ensemble, mais dans des meilleures conditions. Parce qu’en début de match, avec la luminosité qu’il y avait, je ne voyais vraiment pas bien.
That does sound a lot different to what was posted in English. It looks like my inital feeling of 'impressed' being taken to mean 'intimidated' is correct, because he says he has played him a lot in juniors so facing those balls is normal for him.
Regarding Monfils getting "everything handed to him" and Nadal having to "work his way on to out". Hee. Come on! Nadal got Wildcards too. Not as many, but I assume he doesn't have Gael's management Also, dare I suggest that being French over Spanish might help a bit in the WC sweeps? :shrug: Regardless, Monfils was the top junior in the world last year. If not for that, not even the best management in the world would have gotten him WCed into every big event so far this year.
As for Rafa... he's had lots of benefits throughout his career as well. He's been primed for his position in the sport a lot better than most people in his situation.
I haven't doubted that he earned them. In fact, I've been a huge defender of his having earned them.
I made the French comment because 1) The French not only have more tournaments than the Spanish, but they also have a deal with the Australian Open, and 2) I was wondering if it would make any difference to somebody's marketability if they were Spanish or French. Maybe it wouldn't, I don't know. Either way there is an advantage to being French, much like there is an advantage to being American. More wildcards at home tournaments are available. That doesn't take anything away from the fact that Monfils has, IMO, earned all of his... and many of his haven't been in France anyways.
I haven't doubted that he earned them. In fact, I've been a huge defender of his having earned them.
I made the French comment because 1) The French not only have more tournaments than the Spanish, but they also have a deal with the Australian Open, and 2) I was wondering if it would make any difference to somebody's marketability if they were Spanish or French. Maybe it wouldn't, I don't know. Either way there is an advantage to being French, much like there is an advantage to being American. More wildcards at home tournaments are available. That doesn't take anything away from the fact that Monfils has, IMO, earned all of his... and many of his haven't been in France anyways.
He did not receive a WC for MC. He qualified beating some proven competition.
I admit that his game isn't best suited for clay, and I think ESP/ARG should receive the majority of clay WCs.
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