By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday August 9, 2023
Gael Monfils is a expertise in contrast to no different on the ATP Tour. All the extra purpose to hearken to the person when he talks of one other distinctive expertise: Carlos Alcaraz.
The Frenchman gave an excellent account of what makes Alcaraz particular after he took out Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday on the National Bank Open in Toronto, sayings that what makes the Spaniard particular is just about, nicely, all the pieces.
Monfils recalled shedding to Alcaraz 7-5, 6-1 at Indian Wells within the spherical of 16 final yr and knew proper then that the quickly to be World No.1 had that it issue.
/br> “When I finished the match, I told everybody, I said, ‘Whoa, look out. He’s going to be–he is different. When I played him, I felt like his ball was different. His movement was different. His mentality was different.”
Monfils isn’t shocked that Alcaraz nicely on his method to turning into a legend.
“I was just happy to just say, it happened to him quick,” he mentioned, including: “But I felt his ball already, so I knew he has something different.”
This is how Carlos Alcaraz & Gael Monfils ended their follow 😂
Two of essentially the most naturally gifted athletes & entertainers alive & they finish it like this.
How may you not love them.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 8, 2023
Mixed Doubles with Svitolina?
At 36, Monfils could not have too many Grand Slams left in his profession, however he doesn’t rule out placing within the further effort into enjoying combined doubles together with his spouse Elina Svitolina. Maybe not this yr–and even subsequent yr, however sometime.
“Why not?” he mentioned. “Why not to play once a mixed double? Why not? But the thing is it’s tough for me to play single and doubles… But I feel like when it will be the end, I will try to double up. And hopefully it’s not next year.”
What’s Next? Keep Pushing the Body
Back in good type after therapeutic from the wrist damage that pressured him out of Roland-Garros and to additionally miss Wimbledon, Monfils has earned his first Top 10 win of the season. He believes that if he can keep match and proceed placing in time on the follow courtroom, he can earn extra good wins this summer time within the US.
“I would say when I am almost 100 percent and I feel great, I have a lot of practice behind me and can practice weeks to weeks and play tournament after tournament, I will always be a tough opponent,” he mentioned. “That’s why I still play, because I still believe I can be tough for those guys out there.
“I’m just happy that I made it through those weeks, more or less, let’s say, with a little bit of body soreness and everything. But I really want to keep pushing my body and my mind for this week, and, obviously, for the next week coming up.”
Content Source: www.tennisnow.com