Gael Monfils has been the epitome of everything we love and adore about the sport; his drive, charisma, athleticism, passion, and zeal have been as inspirational as breathtaking every time he steps on court over the course of his long career, and it was all on display as he stepped on court for his first-round match against Sebastian Baez on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Tuesday in front of a packed electric French crowd.
The Frenchman came into the French Open ranked outside the Top 100 with an indifferent 1-7 record on the season after being plagued by a series of injuries. Facing a player in Baez, who plays his best game on clay, isn’t the challenge a player in Monfils’ position would have wanted but it was a challenge he took in stride, playing what would rank as one of the matches of the tournament so far and coming out victorious in the end–especially when you factor in the fact that he played the match with a wrist injury that forced him to withdraw from his potential second round match against Holger Rune.
Gael Monfils Inspired by his Daughter
The 36-year-old Frenchman was quick to credit his daughter as the inspiration for the sensational comeback win. “At 3-0, I said to myself: damn, I haven’t won a match since I became a dad… My daughter is in Paris. I said to myself: damn, I’m still going to win one!”
His 3-6 6-3 7-5 1-6 7-5 triumph over Baez was the 11th time he has won a match in five sets at Roland Garros; it is an
The breathtaking style in which he achieved this record captured everything that makes Gael Monfils such a special player. Baez hit the ground running in the first set but Monfils quickly leveled the score board in the second set.
Baez earned three set points at 4-5 0-40 in the third set, but couldn’t convert them. And although Monfils rebounded to take a two-sets-to-one lead, Baez fired up another, dominating the fourth set and moving ahead 4-0 in the fifth, earning a break point for a potential 5-0 lead. Monfils would find the gear to hold serve and force a couple of breaks of his own.
Baez would get the chance to serve for the match after breaking to love at 4-4 But Monfils was somehow to tap into multiple wells of inspiration–the motivation of succeeding for his daughter, the return of confidence in his physical abilities, the passionate fans–to complete a memorable triumph.
“It’s definitely in like top two,” Monfils said, when asked to rank this match in his career.
“I had the same one almost kind of some years ago against Cuevas on (Court Suzanne) Lenglen (in 2015). It was unbelievable atmosphere as well…Of course this one is another flavor. I’m older, and even less chances, let’s say, to win this match today… It’s one of my best matches, the best sports moment I could experience.”
Although we didn’t get the chance to see how far this run could have gone because of the injury to his wrist, we hope like he does to see him back firing in full force for the grass court season.
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
