By Chris Oddo | @Thefanchild | Monday 7 April 2025
A marathon point – look below at 2-1, Deuce in the second set – opened the door for Gael monfils Monday at Monte-Carlos, and the 38-year-old began posting a 4-6 6-1 6-1 win over qualification Fabian Marozsan to reach the second round.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=27MDTTTTTVBC
20 years after his debut in Monte-Carlo, the Frenchman is still strong. It improves at 6-2 in Masters 1000 events this year, and 15-5 per season.
Monte-Carlo 2016 monfils finalist likes his chances in the difficult courts these days, but Monday’s performance proves that he still has enough game to make a change creator in Terre Battue.
“Strong courts have become so slow that it’s almost like playing in clay,” said the 44th rank monfils. “The difference is the work of the legs. Dropshots are much harder to get. Tactical choices are much more difficult because you are less court -based. Always is always harder for me to do well in clay than difficult courts.”
Magnificent monfils@Gel_monfils & Marozsan putting a show#RolexMontecarlomasters pic.twitter.com/v4fi87bme8
– Tenis TV (@tennistv) April 7 2025
Monfils in Rublev-Safin pairing
Monfils will face the former champion and Andrey Rublev of the other seventh seed. Russia is working with coach Mararat Safi officially for the first time at an ATP event.
The Frenchman says he is not fully sure what sapphire can add to Rublev’s game – it’s too early to show.
“I don’t know. It is hard to say. Basically what is important is the Mararat experience. He won the Grand Slams and big tours,” said Monfils, who went 4-0 pounds against Safi during his career.
“Mentally he was extremely strong. He really liked very close matches, and he won a lot of them. So he has an excellent experience. That’s what he can bring on Rublev.
“I think we’ll also find out what’s going on little by little. It is a little too early to talk about it. I think Mararat has trained a top player for the first time this time, so it’s like Andy with novak. So it’s hard to show now. We need a few days, at least.”
