ATP: Gael Monfils wants to go to the top again
Gael Monfils starts today as the tournament favorite in the ATP Tour 250 tournament in Montpellier. The Frenchman has set high goals for the tennis year 2020.
by Robin Huiber
last edit: Feb 06, 2020, 04:36 pm
A few days ago, the 33-year-old Frenchman said in an interview at the ATP Tour 250 tournament in Montpellier that his big goal was still to reach the top five in the world rankings. This goal and the victory in one of the four Grand Slams are the reason why he gets up and trains hard every day. The opportunity to achieve his career goal is still there, Monfils continues. but also ending the tennis year 2020 in the top ten is a great success. Last year, the Frenchman traveled to London for the ATP Finals as the second substitute after Roberto Bautista-Agut, but was not deployed.
The Frenchman achieved the previous highest ranking of the current number nine in the world in 2016. At that time, he barely missed the top five and finished sixth in the ATP world rankings. The likeable entertainer has already collected eight titles in the course of his professional career and was twice in the semifinals of a major (2008 at the French Open and 2016 at the US Open).
Monfils starts against Mannarino
Gael Monfils has definitely already started the new year. The Frenchman won four of his six games in 2020. He only had to give up to the two Australian Open finalists. Monfils lost to Novak Djokovic in the ATP Cup in two sets, Dominic Thiem also lost significantly in the round of 16 of the Australian Open. So Gael Monfils is playing in Montpellier this week, where he will be the favorite for the title. It starts with Monfils in the second round (first round of free tickets) against his French compatriot Adrian Mannarino, who beat Alexei Popyrin in three sets in the first round.
With Grigor Dimitrov and Denis Shapovalov, two of the favorites have already left the title. The Bulgarian made it against local hero Gregoire Barrere at least exciting, made a small comeback in the third set. Shapovalov, on the other hand, had no chance in 2-6 and 3-6 against compatriot Vasek Pospisil.