Gael Monfils Interview
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
French Open
Q. Can you tell me how you feel after you've knocked out a player like David Ferrer?
GAËL MONFILS: I'm just very happy, just very happy I won. I don't feel anything special. I'm just happy.
Q. You wore him out. That's impressive.
GAËL MONFILS: Well, he was already tired. He had played matches in five sets. I was in a better physical condition, so that's it.
Q. Were you ever feeling that the more you played the better you play?
GAËL MONFILS: Yes, it's true. I feel my game better. I am more relaxed. I managed to play my forehand better.
So I'm stepping it up, but I still have a few things to improve.
Q. What was your tactics at the beginning?
GAËL MONFILS: Long rallies and open on his forehand, because on his backhand he ‑‑ I took a risk of having to move a lot. We noticed with my coach that he always plays crosscourt backhands, so it was easier for me to cover my side of the court, and that helped me a lot.
So I played lots of backhand shots along the line, and I was quite successful.
Q. We had the feeling that you were a bit tired at the end of the second set. Was it true, or was it something you wanted to let him think?
GAËL MONFILS: No, it was true. I started feeling a bit tired because the first set was quite intense, and I lost a couple of rallies and it hurt me.
You know, when you've played a long rally and you lost it, it does hurt. But afterwards, I managed to find energy again.
Q. Do you feel the physical impact you have on your opponent? You have very powerful shots and you have very good coverage of the court, and it has an impact on your opponent. Is it something that you feel, and is it a pleasure for you to feel it?
GAËL MONFILS: No, I don't really feel that. I want to play my game. I want to be able to control the rally, let him think that he is leading. But I am still there, and sometimes I get screwed playing that game.
But I knew I was feeling good on my legs, and his ball was ‑‑ well, it was good for me today, so left, right, left, right, I was there on all points.
Q. Today you're wearing an American sports jersey again. Can you tell us what it is?
GAËL MONFILS: Well, this one is '86. That's the year I was born. And then it's Nike, so that's it.
Q. Did you select it at random?
GAËL MONFILS: No, 1986, that's when I was born, and I like wearing these type of jerseys.
Q. And since you wore the Hurricanes jersey, did you have any feedback from your fans?
GAËL MONFILS: I need to check on the Internet.
Q. This is probably your greatest victory in all your career, but you're not overwhelmed with joy. You seem very calm tonight.
GAËL MONFILS: Once again, I've not reached my objective. I'm very happy I won this match. I'm very happy I'll play a semifinal on the central court, but this is not my last objective.
Q. So your objective is to win the tournament?
GAËL MONFILS: Well, the first objective is to win against No. 1 in the world, and we'll see that later.
Q. Would you say that all this success now started in Marrakech during the Challengers tournament?
GAËL MONFILS: I think it was slightly earlier than that, because before ‑‑ before all that I played another tournament. Where was it? I can't remember. Yeah, it was in Valencia, and I had a tough discussion with Thierry. We started arguing, and I think this is when I walked on the court and I didn't feel at the top mentally speaking.
We had an argument, Thierry and I, and then we started working more, and this is from Valencia that it all started. Then we had successes in Monte‑Carlo, and then it improved.
Q. You said you had stepped up your level, but you still have a few things to work on. What are these things?
GAËL MONFILS: My serve, because my second serve is not very fast. I still make lots of double faults, and my percentage on my first serve is not at the top. I think it can be one of my strong shots, but at the moment, it's not my best. I can improve on that.
And then come to the net more often and be more performing. It's getting better, but I can improve still, I think.
Q. Can you come back on what made you all of a sudden improve? Because you said in Indian Wells you were not feeling well; in Valencia, not so good. How come all this energy?
GAËL MONFILS: Well, Indian Wells was not easy. The day before I left I decided I wouldn't go because I didn't want to play. They talked me into going and playing in Indian Wells, so I did.
And when I started on clay we started having long conversations. I don't know what happened.
I don't know what made me aware of this, but I know we worked and we found an agreement, Thierry, Rémi, and myself, although we still had arguments two weeks ago in Casablanca. We stuck together, and now it pays off, but the objective has not been reached yet.
Q. You said you feel good physically speaking. Is it an asset? Does it help you walk on the court very serene from a mental standpoint?
GAËL MONFILS: Yes, because I know I'm strong, and that's good.
Q. In Monte‑Carlo, I remember you practicing with Marat Safin. He went crazy, and he said, Monfils, I don't understand. You have all available shots on your racquets, and you're just 90th player in the world.
GAËL MONFILS: Well, Thierry told me that many times. After this practicing match with Marat he told me that, and at that time I had not realized.
Q. Did you realize that you could play better than you did on this occasion?
GAËL MONFILS: No, I just realized he had made many faults, many errors.
Q. Monte‑Carlo was a different context?
GAËL MONFILS: It was a different context, but now I have more confidence. You know, it's those matches in Monte‑Carlo that helped me build this confidence I have now.
Q. So you're going to play Federer. You played him twice this year. So is it like a France versus Brazil soccer game?
GAËL MONFILS: I would rather say Lakers versus Boston (laughter.) It's going to be a big match, but "the" match is not a semifinal. It's going to be a big match, probably the most important match in my career so far, but it's not the Game 7 yet.
Q. And what do you feel about this Game 6?
GAËL MONFILS: Tough, very tough. Getting closer to the objective, so highly motivated. You know, I've been practicing for years for this moment, so I don't want to miss it.
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