By Richard Pagliaro | @Tennis_Now | Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Photo: Matthew Calvis
Gael Monfils is not a meteorologist.
But the 38-year-old Frenchman can sense a storm brewing.
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Asked to assess his upcoming Rolex Shanghai Masters vs. Carlos Alcaraz, Monfils said the forecast calls for pain.
Elastic Monfils expects total evisceration.
“I think he will beat me. He will crush me one hundred percent, you know,” Monfils told media in Shanghai. “I think I was just lucky, like I said.
Last time I was very lucky and it was not a good game from him, and one of my good games from me.”
Monfils passed the other Frenchman Hugo Humbert 7-6(7), 2-6, 6-1 to set up the Rolex Shanghai Masters rematch against Alcaraz.
The last time the pair played at the Cincinnati Open on Aug. 16, Monfils pulled out of a magic upset.
On his second match point, Monfils blew a serve winner wide, downing Roland Garros and Wimbledon winner Alcaraz 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 to reach the third round of the Cincinnati Open .
It was Monfils’ first Top 3 win since he stunned the world No.1 Daniel Medvedev at Indian Wells 2022.
The magic of Lamonfi 🌟
moment @Gael_Monfils beat Carlos Alcaraz to become the second-oldest ATP player to earn a Top-3 win this century! #CincyTennis pic.twitter.com/fXO6kC3Qgr
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 16, 2024
The then 37-year-old French striker made his mark as the second-oldest man to beat a Top 3-ranked player this century behind his friend, the 38-year-old. Roger Federer, who beat Novak Djokovic in the 2019 ATP Finals.
The 2023 runner-up in Cincinnati, Alcaraz owned a 31-1 record when winning the first set this season with his only loss coming in one set to Andrey Rublev in the quarterfinals of the Mutua Madrid Open last May.
Now, the third Spaniard is coming off a spirited run at the Beijing Championships.
Playing down his chances of pulling off a second successive upset of the Spanish superstar may be Monfils’ way of avoiding the pressure, but he says it is a sign of his deep respect for Alcaraz’s all-round game.
Monfils says his main mission is to avoid being “crushed” by the champion he calls “a future legend”.
“His level is unbelievable. I’ve also done well myself, but he, as I say, is a legend,” Monfils said. “So I think it’s going to crush me, but like I say, I’m going to do my best not to get crushed too easily, in a way.
“But it’s all a bonus, it’s a bonus, you know. It’s not like I’ve been on the field, of course, with the attitude, because I’ve got the experience. But now I’ve got the experience and I can talk like it’s real. You know, this kid is something next So, honestly, it’s going to be a 99 percent chance for him, but just to get one percent, you know, so I’m going to enjoy myself A real man I tell you, no, this kid is something other.”
