"If we could achieve the same things as them, we would be legends": Monfils believes it is unfair to criticise French players due to Big Four and Wawrinka era
Tennis News
Gael
Monfils ncluded Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka as legends. With the competed
against the Big-3.
Roger
Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic have been the dominant players for
the past 20 years, which has often overshadowed other great players, according
to Monfils. The Big-3 have collectively won 64 Grand Slam titles so far, even
with Djokovic performing at his best and uncertainty surrounding Nadal's return
in 2024
Monfils
spoke on "Game, Set and Talk" about the difficulty of comparing
players from the same generation to the members of the Big-3 and downplayed the
fact that there hasn't been a French player who could win a Grand Slam in
decades, despite sharing the era with significant players from his own country
such as Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet, and Gilles Simon.
“We always
want to compare the incomparable. Nadal, Djokovic and Federer are not
champions,” Monfils said.
“These guys
are legends. People forget it. If we could achieve the same things as them, we
would be legends too.”
To
illustrate his point, Monfils mentioned Nadal's record of 14 French Open titles
and the difficulty that two "legends" like Federer and Djokovic had
in achieving the same feat. The Frenchman also referred to Andy Murray and Stan
Wawrinka as tennis legends.
“I always
take the example of Roland Garros. Who has won it 14 times? Has this ever
existed? Two other legends have only won it three times, once Roger and twice
Novak. And we are slapped on the knuckles. And we talk about these three
players but for me Murray and Wawrinka are also legends,” added Monfils.
The
34-year-old tennis player is currently ranked outside the top 300 as he hasn't
played any tournaments since the Canadian Masters in August 2022 and the Indian
Wells tournament in March 2023 due to an injury, and he hasn't been able to
string together a series of good results.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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