Gael Monfils has played his last ever match at Indian Wells after a three set defeat to Felix Auger-Aliassime at Indian Wells.
The Frenchman produced a valiant effort but suffered a 6-7 6-3 6-4 loss to the in-form Canadian as Monfils played in California for the last time in his career.
In his last year on the ATP tour Monfils is aiming to have fun which has been the case in his entire career and he explained how he adopted that mentality, “I always have fun, you know, when you step on the court,” Monfils explained in his press conference.
“It’s something that I think my parents teach me to, no matter what, have fun. You can be disappointed as a competitor, but at the end, as you just say, it’s a game, so I’m always happy. You know, for me, it’s always a privilege to be on the court, and as you just say, I call it my job, but first, it’s a sport and a game.”
There have been lots of lessons learned for Monfils in his 20 year career as he has developed as a player.
However, some of that development has been without a coach and Monfils explained how he used those challenges as an opportunity to grow as a player, “Sometime you need to reset yourself and see exactly what you’re looking for,” Monfils acknowledged.
“I felt, you know, it helped me to reconnect a little bit with myself. I’m traveling alone, and then, yeah, I think you are even more aware about what to do, what to not do. I felt it was helpful for my, you know, experience. Of course it’s a bit difference.
“You know, it was a little bit like that moment that a lot of people wanted me to do stuff that I don’t really see it that way, in a way, in my game, and just like reinforce, you know, my belief, my own strategy for my identity on the court, because most of the time of course coaches want to impose a little bit identity and reinforce it.
“And sometime, you know, for me, it was sometimes different because people see my game differently, and then it was great that I could, you know, reset myself, to be in the best line and reinforce that belief. You know, I had the actually unbelievable result alone, and I liked it.”
In his 15 appearances at Indian Wells, Monfils reached two quarter-finals and had some good wins as he ends his career with a 22-15 win-loss record at the event.
Ending his press conference Monfils reflected on what makes Indian Wells an ‘unbelievable’ tournament, “It’s unbelievable tournament for me. I’m a little bit sad,” Monfils reflected.
“You know, normally not down, but a little bit sad that, as I say last time I came here, 2005, I had the chance to, for the first time, come with my mom, and, you know, as a kid, always wanted to play in big tournaments, big crowd, big venues, and this one was matching all my expectations from day one until now. The infrastructure is just unbelievable.
“Could see the evolution now for two decades, and it’s been great. I had different, let’s say, way that I appreciate the tournament. Of course when I was super young, with friends, a little bit in the way with heavy team, to walk out. Then family, then family with my daughter and parents.
“You know, for me was always a happy place, a place that, you know, I could grow my own self, as well. I always sit here in peace. I was super happy, you know, that I could get this invitation, because I think it’s the most, I mean, it’s the tournament where I played the most, and I think it’s for a reason, because here I always felt good.”
