via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 25, 2022. France’s Gael Monfils reacts during his quarter-final match against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 25, 2022. France’s Gael Monfils reacts during his quarter-final match against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. REUTERS/Loren Elliott
35-year-old French tennis star Gael Monfils was one of the final eight players in the Australian Open 2022. His brilliant run Down Under was only Monfils’ second quarter-final appearance in six years. He previously reached the quarterfinals of the 2019 US Open.
Even though Italy’s Matteo Berrettini knocked Monfils out of the Grand Slam, the World No. 16 is nothing but proud and optimistic. Interestingly, his 2019 US Open run was ended by the Italian as well.
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Gael Monfils is aiming higher than ever
Gael Monfils talked about how difficult it truly is to even reach the quarter-final stage of a Grand Slam.
In his quarter-final match at the Australian Open 2022, Monfils battled Matteo Berrettini in an epic five-setter bout. Ultimately, the final score went in the Italian’s favor, as Monfils lost the match 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 2-6.
« Les gens ont tendance à banaliser le fait d’arriver en quart de finale de GC, mais quand ces opportunités se présentent, il faut les saisir. J’ai envie de toujours y croire et de me mettre dans une meilleure position pour aller chercher encore plus haut »@Gael_Monfils
— Open Sud de France – Montpellier (@OpenSuddeFrance) February 1, 2022
Nevertheless, Monfils talked about how reaching a quarter-final itself is an achievement. “People tend to trivialize the fact of arriving in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam,” Monfils stated.
Furthermore, he talked about how one must seize opportunities of playing at such high levels when they arise. Hence, going forward, Monfils is hopeful that he will be in such a position many more times.
ALSO READ: ‘I Have Nothing Against Daniil’: Gael Monfils in Awe of Rafael Nadal After Australian Open 2022
“I want to always believe in it,” the third seed at Montpellier said. Finally, for the rest of the year, too, Gael Monfils is confident that he can “put (himself) in a better position to reach even higher”.
Monfils believes he could still win a Grand Slam
After his loss in the Australian Open, Gael Monfils stated that he feels confident that he might win a Grand Slam.
via Reuters
Tennis – Australian Open – Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Australia – January 25, 2022. France’s Gael Monfils in action during his quarter-final match against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini. REUTERS/Morgan Sette
He admitted that he is “not losing the faith” in himself. Moreover, he also stated that even though he might not win 20 Grand Slams, he just “need(s) one time,” and is “working for this”.
There's no quit in this man 💪 @Gael_Monfils · #AusOpen · #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/x3NuJIvy9E
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) February 1, 2022
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“I still believe I can do it,” the Frenchman said. In fact, Monfils claimed that he just might win a major this year itself. “Who knows? This year it might click.”
Are you excited to see Gael Monfils have a crack at a Grand Slam title this year?
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