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Healthy Monfils Is “Ready” To Slay Dragons
At age 37 and coming back from some injury setbacks, Gael Monfils is thrilled to back in top form. And the veteran Frenchman even hinted he feels so good right now, anything is within his reach.
In Indian Wells Monfils upset world no. 8 Hubert Hurkacz in three sets and then crushed Max Purcell 61 62 to set up a third round duel with Cameron Norrie.
In a Tennis Channel interview this week with Steve Weissman and Prakash Amritraj, world no. 54 Monfils revealed his body is back to full health and his confidence is soaring. Monfils was asked about the animated celebrations he performed this week at the BNP Paribas Open were not just for show. “(I did it) because I’m ready. That’s what I felt in my body, is ready to go. When you do celebrations, it’s meaningful. It’s a message sent out: I’m back, I’m really back. I’m ready. I worked hard to get back in shape, get my rhythm, I was out for almost nine months doing nothing. When I first came back I got a win but I knew I wasn’t really back yet, so I was shy. Now I feel I’m ready.”
The man who has only reached two Grand Slam semifinals (US Open 2016, French Open 2008) in his 20 year career, and won 12 ATP singles titles with a career best ranking of no. 5 in 2016, hinted that he believes he could pull off a tennis miracle this year. “My mindset is there to try to achieve anything. Let’s see…”
Artengo · BNP Paribas Open · Gael Monfils · Indian Wells
Scoop Malinowski · March 11, 2024 at 8:05 pm
Monfils beats Norrie 67 76 63. Fourth win in four matches vs Norrie, the last three all three setters. La monf looking very very good right now, could shock the world with his best results?