The Road Less Traveled

GAEL GAEL MONFILS MONFILS THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED

By Joey Hanf

Professional Tennis in the modern era has revolutionized the sport in many ways. Players are fitter than ever, nutritionists are ensuring that their bodies are at peak performance, and coaches have started using advanced analytics to get every advantage possible for their players. This new landscape has made the depth of tennis very strong. Players ranked outside the top 100 can compete with the top stars on a weekly basis. But one downside to everyone doing the same thing is that a lot of players have started to look the same, and personalities have become harder to find. Gael Monfils, however, does not prescribe to the modern professional tennis player outline. That, along with incredible talent, athleticism and charisma has made Monfils one of the most entertaining players in the world.

Many coaches, former players and tennis “experts” have expressed frustration that Monfils didn’t get as much out of his career as he could have. That’s a popular take, but maybe let’s take a step back and realize what Monfils has done for tennis rather than simply judge players based on their results. And if we are talking about results, being a career top 10 player is certainly nothing to complain about.

From his early years on tour, regardless of his opponent, if you made your way to the court Monfils was playing on, there’s no doubt the crowd was packed full. In an era of the Big 3 dominating center courts, Monfils often created immense value for the grounds pass holder. One rather infamous U.S. Open moment, the American crowd was firmly behind the Frenchman despite the fact he was facing off against U.S. #1 John Isner.

Men’s tennis in particular has become borderline monotonous in terms of style of play. Grinding from the baseline is impressive, sure. But having the same cross-court rally play out all match doesn’t lead to all that much drama.

There is an entirely unique sound when Monfils lines up and puts everything he has into a forehand. He has recorded some of the fastest hit winners of all time. Those shots are usually accompanied and followed by a loud “ALLEZ!” afterwards that gets every single fan out of their seats. The power is breathtaking, but Monfils’ speed is what really sets him apart. Any opponent who considers hitting a drop shop is making a grave mistake, as Monfils gets to literally everything on the court seemingly with ease. He wasn’t the first to make sliding on hard-courts the norm, but he certainly has pushed the boundaries in terms of what’s possible.

What makes Monfils so special though is not only his ability or raw talent, but rather his passion for the game and the emotion he presents on and off the court. What the COVID-19 pandemic showed for everyone in tennis is that we are incredibly lucky to simply have an opportunity to play the sport. Monfils for his entire career stepped on the court everyday with that same joy and purpose. Whether it was the practice court or Arthur Ashe Stadium, there’s no doubt that Monfils found more enjoyment in tennis than most of his peers.

Off the court, Monfils has dabbled in a number of hobbies and scenes throughout the years. From breakdancing to DJ-ing, it’s clear that Monfils connects with people of all cultures in a way that most could only hope. Walking into the locker room, it’s obvious that he’s friends with just about everyone he meets, even if they’ve just faced off as opponents on court.

Monfils’ ability to adapt and excel was on display during the worldwide lockdown from the Coronavirus, as he quickly found a platform to entertain the public. He started a Twitch livestream channel, and has played video games for an audience of thousands of viewers. No matter what he chooses to do, he does it with passion and joy, and that’s what leads to success.

Various coaches throughout his career tried to refine or reform Monfils into what they thought he should be, but they all failed, because what makes the Frenchman so special is the way he plays with freedom and unpredictability.

Rather than think about the “what-if”, it’s time for all of us in tennis to realize what Monfils provided to this sport. He brought happiness and personal expression to tennis in a time when many began to all look the same. He inspired a generation of players to embrace the hot-shot and showed everyone how to bring the crowd into a match.

From ticket-holders to TV executives and even his fellow competitors, Gael Monfils has been must-watch from the very start. Sooner or later, everyone is going to be paying attention.