In a rare glimpse into his struggles on the tour, Gael Monfils admits that trying to live up to the pressure placed on him has been hard to cope with in recent weeks.
The former US Open semi-finalist is currently in the hunt for ending the year in the world’s top 10. Something he has only done once before, which was back in 2016. He is also currently in 11th place in the ATP Race to London, which will only feature the top eight players. The Frenchman has only qualified for the end-of-year event once in his career.
It hasn’t all been plain-sailing for Monfils in recent months. A lapse in form resulted in him failing to win back-to-back matches in four consecutive tournaments after the US Open. Something the Frenchman admits was due to stress.
“Since Asia, I’m dead. I’m exhausted physically and mentally.” Monfils told reporters on Wednesday.
“I felt a backlash in Asia because I didn’t succeed in Asia well. My game level dropped drastically. Physically, I started having more slip-ups in Antwerp. It was a tough match against (Jannik) Sinner, but mentally it was harsher. It was not good at all, and that hadn’t happened for a long time.”
“So we (my team) sat down. We talked. It’s all this pressure accruing to me, because I really wanted to finish in the top 10. And people keep on talking about the London Masters (ATP Finals) and I had enough of it.”
Dissecting with his team where he went off the rails, Monfils believes it was the Race to London. Admitting the expectation of trying to play the event eventually overwhelmed him. At the Vienna Open, where he reached the semi-finals last week, he admits that he didn’t even want to play in the tournament. Saying he ‘didn’t feel good’ both mentally and physically.
“Of course, my goal is to aim for a top 10 finish, not really the London Masters. And I have had too much pressure because I’m close to the London Masters, but I’m still not that close. And I stress myself too much.” He explained.
“And playing when one is stressed is not easy because I enjoy myself less, and I really want to enjoy myself when I play tennis.”
Ironically it was in Vienna where he rediscovered both his confidence and his form on the court after going ‘back to basics.’ At the tournament he scored wins over Dennis Novak, Jannik Sinner and Aljaz Bedene. He was eventually knocked out of the tournament by Diego Schwartzman.
“My confidence was back on. I could run more than play. It’s still hard for me to have a good forehand, a good backhand, but I’m robust on cross-court shots. This is what I do. When one is stressed it’s just hard, but we had to go back to the basics.”
Monfils is hoping to continue his winning momentum on home soil at the Paris Masters this week. On Wednesday he saw off compatriot Benoit Paire in two tightly contested sets. He will play Moldova’s Radu Albot in the third round.
