"From day one, I was different" - Gael Monfils opens up on personal and professional life

With most adapting the same style of play on the ATP Tour, finding someone who is truly unique might be difficult. However, none are as capable of capturing the attention of a crowd like Gael Monfils.

The charismatic Frenchman is one of the most athletic and creative players currently on Tour, Furthermore, he is beloved by fans and respected by his peers, who never have anything negative to say about him.

Having won three of the four junior Grand Slam tournaments in 2004, his face has been plastered across the covers of local and foreign magazines. His popularity has only increased since then, but Monfils has managed to remain humble despite all his success.

“I’ve been judged from a very young age, all the time, but people don’t know your situation: how you’ve been raised, your tennis,” says Monfils in an interview with ATP Tennis Radio. “It was a blessing for me to play tennis."

“From day one, I was different. I am different." Monfils recounts. "I didn’t pay attention, but I play because I love the sport. I like being around athletes, I like track and field, football, basketball. I am a sportsman inside.

I chose tennis because I played from a young age, along with football, judo and basketball. This was the sport that I felt the happiest playing.”

The World No.9 has put on a stellar performance this season, starting the year with a 16-3 record. This included an 11-match winning streak that saw him capture two consecutive titles (Montpellier and Rotterdam) before finally losing to a superhuman Novak Djokovic in the semifinals at Dubai.

“The biggest part of the Tour is to have success back-to-back, week after week, that’s what we train for physically and mentally,” says Monfils. “I have been very solid, and I think I’m in great shape physically, moving great on the court, which helps my game. When you start to be a bit more confident, you go for your shots. My movement is the key, but that’s when I also try some shots in tough moments.”

On his relationship with Svitolina

Monfils has been dating Ukrainian Elina Svitolina, the current World No.5 on the WTA Tour. The two have been in a relationship for 18 months and show no signs of slowing down.

“To share the same goals, the dedication and experience is something amazing,” he admits. “It’s a very individual, selfish sport, and most of the time we’re alone, but we appreciate the time we have together: at home or tournaments. I hope I help her, and when we practice together we laugh. Perhaps, I’m more serious when I hit with her, as I want to help Elina to achieve her goals."

On his current professional goals

The 33-year old attained a career-high ranking of World No.6 in November 2016. After seeing his ranking fluctuate since then, the Frenchman is back in the top 10. Furthermore, he has openly admitted to wanting to win a Slam before he retires, a task that many thought conceivable before the suspension of the 2020 ATP season.

“It’s a dream to win a Slam and being in the Top 5, even for one week, is a goal. So many players have the potential, but they struggle like me… I hope one day to have the opportunity.

People think that we’re talented, gifted,” says Monfils. “Nothing is gifted, nothing is about talent, it’s about work. You work harder than everyone else. People mistake working and winning. You can work really hard and not win, not have the result you want. It’s tough. For all the players on the Tour [at ITF Futures, Challengers and the ATP Tour], they are working from a young age. I’m here now because I’ve worked hard, my parents worked hard and fought very hard to give me the possibility to one day play tennis at the top level.”

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