Bresnik on new protégé Monfils: "The quality difference to Dominic is big"
Gael Monfils is the name of the new protégé of Austria's star coach Günter Bresnik. He praises the French as "pleasant contemporaries" - but also sees many question marks about long-term cooperation.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jan 28, 2021, 10:05 am
Gael Monfils and Günter Bresnik - who would have thought that? The two have been training together since November and were active in Dubai and Tenerife during the off-season. Monfils is currently in Australia, Bresnik is coaching over the phone. The interim balance after the first few months on the side of the world number 11: "A very pleasant contemporary, you will never get bored with him", said Bresnik to heute.at .
In terms of sport, Monfils is "the best athlete in the tennis circuit," said Bresnik. "But there are many question marks as to whether it will fit with us. He is 34 years old. Does he dismiss the scope of training? Does he give our idea a fair chance? I will certainly not continue as before, but he knows that."
"Monfils can win a Grand Slam tournament"
Among other things, Monfils' strengths are that he is quick in his head, "when you watch him play computer games, you are amazed. He sees things earlier - like Nick Kyrgios. He has fewer problems with the speed of the opponent's blows." Others see him as the puppet, but he doesn't want to be that, "as a clown you won't be number six either". Monfils is a worker, brought up very strictly by his father, Rufin Monfils, a former professional footballer. Monfils could win a Grand Slam tournament, said Bresnik. Nevertheless: "He works differently. He is not a David Ferrer who digs, fights and bites. He feels good when he is creative. You must not restrict such types unconditionally, otherwise you will do a lot of damage." Tennis is a game sport, the element of surprise is important. "The stop is a good idea in and of itself. But it is also about the execution. And if the stop happens after the opening of the second or third ball, I'm less angry."
Thiem against Monfils at the ATP Cup
The crux of the matter: Already at the beginning of the year, at the ATP Cup , there is a clash between Bresnik protégés - between the current one, Monfils, and the most famous former, Dominic Thiem, who separated from his long-term mentor in 2019.
In the second group game, on February 4th, Austria and France will play against each other, which for Bresnik is actually a clear thing. "Right now, Gael is at least one class weaker." In Vienna, Monfils served six double faults in a game last year. "The quality difference to Dominic is big."
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