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Gael Monfils interview

3K views 60 replies 26 participants last post by  NATAS81 
#1 ·
R. NADAL /G. Monfils

6‑3, 6‑2

An interview with:



GAEL MONFILS

(Through Translation)

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What happened today seemed logical to you?

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.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports...
 
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#2 ·
I get the impression he is kind of trying to take something away from Nadal's win. I love Monfils as a player, but he comes across cocky in this interview to me. It could be lost in translation though, who knows :)
 
#6 ·
To me he certainly didn't look like he had the shots to win the match, but the conditions probably played their part. The serving difference aside, from the baseline they essentially had the same style but Nadal did it better. And I think the "not impressed" line is just professional speak, he knows enough about the quality of Nadal and his game that he wasn't surprised by what he saw. Mind you, I could be wrong and there's some prodigy envy going on, who can say? I found the "Only rats think that" quote far funnier; if players who pray for rain delays are rats, then some of the greatest players in the history of the game have rodent-like qualities...
 
#7 ·
OK look. Why was that part highlighted?

The kid has many intersting things to say.

I wouldn't be surprised if he broke the top 50 by year's end.

The upside is tremendous. Can we get off his back for a minute?

Slandering his potential is liable to harm his focus on the game.

Do not put label on a kid so young, and so promising.

He has a ton of time to correct his shortcomings, and blossom into a powerhouse.

With a frame he has, and his agressive passion for the game, I am looking forward to seeing this kid bring great energy to tennis that is lacking with the Federer's as he bullies his way up the charts!!!

ALLEZ GAEL!!! HENRY THE IX!!! KING OF FRANCE!
 
#8 ·
Personally I think there's more than enough energy in the game right now, Nadal has enough of it to power the entire tour. We need more players like Mayer, emotional zombies who play varied and unorthodox tennis. I know that the heavy clay in this match wasn't conducive to entertaining tennis, but there's only so many times you can watch someone throw themselves bodily into shots that will probably do them physical harm in the long-term and end up coming back with interest 9 times out of 10.
 
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#10 ·
I'm looking forward to it already.

*but will avoid sounding too bitter, given a) Federer's current success on tour, and b) the less than varied playing style of the man in my avatar*
 
#13 ·
I agree with vincayou. He was frank and I wasn't particularly impressed with Nadal's game (although he did nice). And the rats comment is hilarious ha, ha!

BTW Gael played very, very well. Good serve (low percentage), huge FH and pretty fine BH while he wasn't tired (ok, I'll have to mention his AWFUL volleys, but he WILL improve that. He has to :D ). His fitness and excitement didn't do him a favor though, but he'll fix that too. So, all in all, Go Gael and finish, let's say, top 40 this year!!!

PS Vamos Rafa, get Top10 SOON ;) !!!
 
#14 ·
I think it's accurate enough from Monfils. I don't think he's trying to be arrogant when he says he's not impressed. He wasn't blown on the court by Nadal and he had some chances for sure. What it did show was gulf in experience there is in coping with key points between the two but that's to be expected given that Nadal has been playing on the ATP tour for longer and has already won 3 ATP events and pushed Federer. You'd expect him to be better on the big points. Gael has shown that he's got a huge forehand but also how raw he is today. Give him time. I think he'll come good.
 
#15 · (Edited)
Well, I think he has a lot of potential as a player. I hope he has a good coach. I watched him play against Nadal. Nadal was by far better, and when he broke Nadal, I'd say, Nadal handed the point to him via errors.

However, Monfils lacked structure to his game. His serve was the best part of his game. So I hope he has a good coach, because he still has a very long way to go. As for this interview.........rack it up to immaturity.
 
#16 ·
garylanders said:
NATAS81 said:
The kid has many intersting things to say.

QUOTE]


Like what ?
Like he's improving his game and whatnot.

What is your purpose in this thread?

Like some athletes, Monfils does not need performance enhancing drugs to boost his career.
 
#17 ·
Neumann said:
His fitness and excitement didn't do him a favor though, but he'll fix that too.
His fitness isn't the issue here. It's his ability to put it all together and win the points he must win. And no mental lapses allowing his opponents to creep back into a match.
 
#23 ·
Sweetie-pie has attitude to burn. i love it :inlove:
 
#24 ·
Here is Rafa's incase anybody wanted to see what he had to say about Monfils.

INTERVIEW Rafael Nadal


R. NADAL /G. Monfils

6‑3, 6‑2

An interview with:

RAFAEL NADAL (Through Translation)

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. What do you think about the match today?

RAFAEL NADAL: It was not easy for me. He's a player of my age. He plays well. He beat Gaudio in Australia , and he played well in Miami . He's confident. It is his first year. In this case, everything that happens is a good thing, everything is positive. If you lose, it doesn't matter. I know that because I went through it myself. It's easier the first year. After one or two years, it becomes more difficult. When you lose, it's not the same anymore.

This match was difficult for me, so I'm happy that I won.

Q. Since you are winning more matches, aren't you afraid of getting tired? Is it a problem to get organized differently?

RAFAEL NADAL: It's not easy. The beginning of the year was impressive. I played a lot and I got tired afterwards. Last week I had a bit of rest. It's difficult to have the same routine every morning, to get up in the morning.

In Miami I played well against Federer , but this tournament here is very important for me. I came here with a lot of pleasure, and I can say it's the most important tournament of the year for me.

Q. Coria said that, with Gaudio , you were the favorites on clay.

RAFAEL NADAL: It's nice of him to think of me as a favorite, but it's not the way I feel. This year is the first year I'm playing with a certain guarantee. Two years ago I was 16, I only played to win one match. This year every match is important; every win counts.

For me, the favorites are Coria , Gaudio , Moya , Ferrero , Federer . I'm not playing sufficiently well.

Q. Do you believe the victory today gives you an important psychological advantage for your future fights with Gael ?

RAFAEL NADAL: It's only a matter of hope. For me, a future duel seems very far away. Today I played well, but I am not at the level where I can think about a duel. I still need to improve my ranking a lot; therefore, I'm not thinking about that.

Also, there are many other good players. Earlier I was compared with Gasquet , so it could be him or Monfils or me or another player who's going to turn up next year.

Q. Against Federer in Valencia , you were very close to winning. Do you believe that on clay you have weapons against him?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. I'm thinking about my next match against Malisse . I'm not thinking about a duel against Federer ; Malisse first.

It's true that I was two points away from victory against Federer , but I wasn't able to succeed. I'm not thinking about my future rivals, but rather to improve my game. I feel good physically, I am fast, I have good shots, but what I need is more wins.

Q. Key Biscayne is a fast surface. Do you believe you're stronger on clay?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't believe I'm stronger, but on clay there are more players. I lost more often on fast surfaces.

In Australia I almost won against Hewitt , who is one of the best players on the surface, and there also was Miami and Indian Wells . I don't believe there's a real difference.

But simply on clay I feel more relaxed. Many more things can happen during a match.

Q. What made the difference against Gael ‑ the physical condition or the experience?

RAFAEL NADAL: I don't know. He's a player who plays inconsistently. Sometimes he's defending; sometimes he's attacking. His game is not well‑defined. It can be positive, he can be deceptive for the opponent; but it can also be negative because he can make mistakes.

It was a very difficult match, very tight. I was more solid than him. The long points were important. I felt good physically.

In the second set I felt he was getting a little bit tired. He was losing faith and during the long points, the long rallies, I made the difference.

FastScripts by ASAP Sports...
 
#25 ·
RAFAEL NADAL: It was not easy for me. He's a player of my age. He plays well. He beat Gaudio in Australia , and he played well in Miami . He's confident. It is his first year. In this case, everything that happens is a good thing, everything is positive. If you lose, it doesn't matter. I know that because I went through it myself. It's easier the first year. After one or two years, it becomes more difficult. When you lose, it's not the same anymore.

This match was difficult for me, so I'm happy that I won.
well said Nadal. truth!

by the way for those who have the tennis channel, this match is about to start again :wavey:
 
#26 · (Edited)
Monfils sounds like he hates losing. Not every player is going to be humble and say good things about players. I think Mofils is going to create a lot of excitment, he's just a kid but he's already showing what kind of player he is shaping into. The Future Bad Boy of Tennis? maybe? He is extremley talented and is very big. It seems like a new batch of younger players are replacing the original young ballers, Roddick, Federer, Fish. It's sort of weird to think about? Now i'm not saying these young guys are going to be as good or as successful as some of the players I mentioned, but with Roddick just 22, he already seems out of times with the young up and coming players that can hit every shot in the book.
 
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