Jean-Francois Peres
Gaël Monfils won against Miomir Kecmanovic in three sets (7-5,7-6,6-3) in the round of 16 of the Australian Open before facing Matteo Berrettini in the quarters. His rebirth during this first Grand Slam of the season is highly symbolic because it was here that the Frenchman cracked down at a press conference. Explanations.
Gaël Monfils is the story of a talented and disconcerting player. It is also the story of a wink. Last year, it was in Melbourne that everything almost stopped. Twelve months later, Melbourne is the birth certificate of the new Monfils. He moved the tennis world last year in Melbourne. Eliminated in the first round by an unknown, he had burst into tears at a press conference. “I’ll give you my mother’s simple phrase. She’ll tell me that I have to keep training and it will come…”. Many were those who anticipated the sporting retirement of the former world number 6, but the Parisian held firm despite sometimes discouraging poor performance.
He practiced again and again
He continued to train, listening to his mother’s advice. He changed trainer, racket too. He got married (to Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina), sharing his happiness on social networks. Gaël has become Monfils again. No set lost since the beginning of the Australian fortnight and an ogre appetite before facing the formidable Berrettini, finalist at Wimbledon last year. “One of the best servers on the circuit. Lots of winners. A huge forehand. Someone who really pushes you around,” he said of his opponent. It will be Gael Monfils’ tenth quarter-final in a major tournament, like Noah, the last Frenchman to win a Grand Slam (1983 at Roland-Garros). Like Tsonga, last finalist 14 years ago.