Gael Monfils

[Power King]

I'm a fan.

As a junior, seemed to be a GENUINE all-courter.

Is one of the biggest potential stars in this new generation that is currently taking over the past one, with Nadal (he's been up there for a while though), Murray and Djokovic having already taken that step toward challenging for grand slams. This generation also includes Gasquet (so far to a lesser extent), and for me, hopefully Monfils.

I want to ask you all if you believe Monfils has what it takes to be a genuine grand slam contender (not just once, but for multiple seasons), by taking the next step up that some of his fellow same-aged peers already have?

Why/Why not?

 

[BLPC08]

Doesn't appear to have the same desire as the likes of Nadal, Djokovic and Murray. Is still a solid player who is always going to be capable of causing an upset during the Grand Slams, however certainly lacks the application of the top 10.

 

[aaronm46]

would be brilliant if he could play some consisent tennis but the way he slides you just think on hard court his ankle is gonna snap in half

 

[crowsarethebest]

I don't think he wants enough. Apparently he plays more basketball than practicing tennis. He is a freak athlete though. You feel he loves the big stage and is an entertainer. He has some freakish shots though. I remember last year he smacked a 190kmph forehand down the line.... that is basically as fast as many 1st serves on the mens tour. It was MASSIVE. He's got all the tools but like BLPC08 said he doesn't have the application. If he works hard he could not doubt be up there. His talent has gotten him this far basically, if he could lift his work rate he'd be top 10 easy. He was got everything really. He is the best mover on the tour, Big serve, MASSIVE FOREHAND (when he uses it), solid at the net and solid backhand. However he plays like a counter-puncher (Hewitt style) when he could be so much more than that. He plays way way too far behind the baseline. If he plays on the baseline or around there he'd be owning everyone. He doesn't use his weapons enough. He has a massive forehand but doesn't use it enough. He just stays back and grinds out points when he could be approaching the net and finishing points so much quicker.

Monfils was a very successful junior, but on the pro tour you need more than talent to get into the top 10. He has little application- he thinks he can float to number 1 like in his junior days courtesy of his talent. As I said, he's got the athleticism, + weapons and all court game to be a top 10/Grand Slam winner. For him its in the head. If he lifts his work rate, realises just how good he could be if he worked harder and plays much closer if not on the baseline then he'll be one heck of a player. He's one of the most talented plays on tour at the moment.

 

[Power King]

^Correct me if I'm wrong, but that forehand at the Aust Open last year was a world record for a groundstroke speed, and what makes it even more incredible, is it was on the run with him running around to his forehand side, down the line, and a winner.

Monfils did make the semi of this year's French. I need pay tv to be able to watch the french open... ****

 

[crowsarethebest]

^Correct me if I'm wrong, but that forehand at the Aust Open last year was a world record for a groundstroke speed, and what makes it even more incredible, is it was on the run with him running around to his forehand side, down the line, and a winner.

Monfils did make the semi of this year's French. I need pay tv to be able to watch the french open... ****

Yeah pretty sure it was the fastest recorded ground stroke ever. The shot was freakish though... 190kmph... that was *******. Yeah he did make the semi's of the french but he would be doing so much better if he was playing nearer to the baseline... hopefully he puts it all together cause he could be a freakish player.

 

[mdc]

Fantastic player to watch, but IMO with his technique is always going to struggle for consistency.

A little off-topic, but is his mate Tsonga still injured?

 

[BLPC08]

Tsonga is back and firing on all cyclinders, just downed Djokovic in straight sets.

 

[amer]

Didn't anyone see Monfils at the US Open? Typical exit from him, minimal heart. And for that reason he will never be elite. Doesn't have the fight required.

 

[BLPC08]

Didn't anyone see Monfils at the US Open? Typical exit from him, minimal heart. And for that reason he will never be elite. Doesn't have the fight required.

Would have to agree with that, however I think Jo Wilfried Tsonga is an enhanced version of Monfils and has plenty of potential to make the top 10 in 2009 if he can stay injury free.

 

[crowsarethebest]

Didn't anyone see Monfils at the US Open? Typical exit from him, minimal heart. And for that reason he will never be elite. Doesn't have the fight required.

It's just his attitude I reckon. It's like he doesn't care- he probably doesn't. That's what's wrong. He doesn't give a ****. Soon he'll learn... hopefully.

 

[Colin D'Cops]

He is a massive talent, there's no doubt about that, we knew that a couple of years ago. He struggles to stay focussed when going deep into tournaments and I just think that by being mentally weak deep into tournaments, you are very, very vulnerable to lose. That's what I think will stop him from becoming a top five player.