Gael Monfils
The Entertainer Looks to Capture Grand Slam Glory on Home Soil By Bri a n C ol e m a n
n 1983, Yannick Noah beat defending champion Mats Wilander 6-2, 7-5, 7-6(7-3) to win the French Open title, becoming the first Frenchman to win the title since Marcel Bernard in 1946. Since Noah’s title in ’83, a new streak has begun. No Frenchman has won the crown on their home soil in the 32 years since. In fact, a player from France hasn’t even reached the final since 1988, when Henri Laconte lost to the aforementioned Wilander. There is no shortage of talent coming out of France, with five Frenchman currently residing inside the top 30 on the ATP Tour. One of those players, 15th-ranked Gael Monfils, is as perplexing as they come on the Tour, but is someone who could snap the French drought at Roland Garros this year. The 28-year-old has talent that is undeniable. As a junior, he reached the world number one ranking in February 2004. He would go on to win junior titles at the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon before turning pro. Combining power, length and athleticism, Monfils quickly made himself a known commodity on the ATP Tour. He climbed nearly 200 spots in the ATP Men’s Singles Rankings during the 2005 campaign and found himself in the Top 50 and hasn’t looked back since. The knock on Monfils has never been about his skill level, but rather, his flamboyant and sometimes lackadaisical approach to the sport. He is an exception to the rule in almost any aspect of the sport. Monfils doesn’t employ a coach, and while his opponents are hydrating with water and other energy drinks, Monfils sips from his Coke can. He takes a unique mindset to the court every time he plays.
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continued on page 22 LITennisMag.com • May/June 2015 • Long Island Tennis Magazine
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