Gaël Monfils

Gaël Sébastien Monfils (born 1 September 1986) is a French professional tennis player. As of 2011 he was the highest-ranked French tennis player, ranked 7th in the world ATP rankings. He was the runner-up at the Paris Masters in 2009 and 2010 and a semi-finalist at the 2008 French Open.

Tennis career

In 2002, Monfils finished as 24th at the Dutch Junior Open. In the same year, he won the German Junior Open (defeating Bayer). Monfils ended the year ranked the 4th junior in the world. He also represented France in the junior Davis Cup.Monfils got off to a positive start in 2003 as earned his first career ATP point at the France Futures No.13 by reaching the second round. He also reached the second round at France #14, Egypt #2, and Spain #28. In that year, he played a total of nine Futures events. This included a showing in the doubles final at Spain #27. In junior events, he was the runner-up at Orange Bowl (losing to Marcos Baghdatis) and USTA International Winter Championships (losing to Sebastian Rieschick). He reached the quarter-final of the Australian Open juniors tournament (losing to Florin Mergea) and won the doubles title at the Victorian Junior Championships (with Josselin Ouanna). He was number 21 in junior rankings at the end of the year.
In 2004, the French teenager finished as the world's number 1 junior, winning three of four junior Grand Slam events (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon). He improved his INDESIT ATP Entry Ranking by over 700 positions. In October, he made his ATP debut as a wild card entrant in Metz and reached the quarter-final, defeating Juwana Doit and Olivier Patience and losing to countryman Richard Gasquet. He qualified for the ATP Masters Series in Paris and reached the second round beating former Top 10 player Thomas Enqvist before falling to No. 3 Lleyton Hewitt. He won junior titles at the Australian Open (defeating Ouanna), French Open (defeating Kuznetsov) and Wimbledon (defeating Kasiri). He did not drop a set in Australia and lost one set each at the French Open and Wimbledon. He reached the third at the US Open (losing to Troicki). He also won the LTA International Junior Championship in Roehampton (defeating Murray). He was the runner-up at the Australian Hardcourt Junior Championships (losing to Zverev) and was 31–2 in junior events. In April, he reached his first career Futures final at Italy No.4 (losing to Dlouhy). A week later, he won his first Futures title at Great Britain No.1 (defeating Bogdanović). He reached the quarter-final of the Grenoble Challenger. He went 14–6 in Futures and 3–5 in Challengers in 2004.In doubles, Monfils reached the final at France No.7 (with Ouanna). He reached the semifinal at the Australian Open and the quarterfinal at the French Open (with Ouanna).In 2005, the young Frenchman made one of the biggest moves in the Top 50 from the previous season, climbing 200 ranking spots. He finished the year as the No. 3 Frenchman (behind No. 16 Richard Gasquet, No. 26 Sébastien Grosjean) and captured his first ATP title while reaching two other finals.In the first seven months, he won Challenger titles in Benancon (defeating C. Rochus) and Tunis (defeating Santoro), and also reached the fourth round at the ATP Masters Series Miami (losing to Hrbaty) and a Grand Slam best third round appearance at Wimbledon (losing to Ančić). He compiled a 10–14 record in ATP level play and 12–1 in Challengers through July.In the last three months, he went 15–8, highlighted by his first ATP clay title at the Idea Prokom Open in Sopot (defeating Mayer). Then he struggled with a 2–5 mark before reaching the final in two of the last three indoor tournaments of the season, both in his native country in Metz (losing to Ljubičić) and Lyon (losing to Roddick). He went 11–4 in tie-breaks and 1–2 vs. top 10 opponents, defeating No. 10 Gastón Gaudio in his first match of the season in Doha. He compiled records of 12–10 on hard, 6–7 on clay, 5–2 on carpet and 2–3 on grass.
In his first tournament of 2006, in Doha, he reached the final but lost 3–6, 6–7 to world number 1 Roger Federer. In a surprising event in Las Vegas there was a Tennis paddle tournament held by the Tennis Channel. Monfils was given a wildcard into the doubles event but became more interested and inquired about getting a singles wildcard into the main draw. However, he received an entry into the qualifying singles (which he won), as it would have been unfair for the other players in the main draw. Monfils competed in the main draw of this Paddle tennis Tournament and surprised everyone when he outed world no.1 Paddle Tennis player Scott Freedman and eventually went on to win the whole tournament.Later on in 2006 Monfils reached the semi-finals of the Rome Tennis Masters Series before losing to the eventual champion Rafael Nadal. En route to the semi-finals Monfils defeated former world number one Andy Roddick. He then entered the ATP Hamburg masters event where he lost in straight sets to fellow teenager Andy Murray in the first round. After that he faced Murray once more, this time in the first round of the French Open. After a gruelling five – set battle, Monfils emerged victorious. Monfils then proceeded to play the Belgian Dick Norman in the second round. Once again the match went to five sets and Monfils got the better of his formidable opponent. Monfils then faced his toughest opponent yet, the American James Blake. Blake was the favourite for the win, as he was 8th seed while Monfils was 25th seed. However, Monfils defeated Blake in another 5 set match. Monfils described this run as 'a marathon'. Blake said of Monfils that 'he was the fastest man on the tour'. The fourth round was Monfils' last, as he lost to Novak Đoković in straight sets. Monfils said after the match: 'I am disappointed that I didn't take the opportunity, but you can expect me to return next year'. Monfils then left the court to a standing ovation.As a result of his progress at the French Open, Monfils moved up 5 positions to reach a career high of No.23. This also made him the number one player in France, two positions ahead of Sébastien Grosjean.Monfils then entered the Stella Artois Championships, where he won his first round match against Jürgen Melzer. He then played the American Bobby Reynolds and won in straight sets. His third round encounter was the third time he would face the world no.4 Ivan Ljubičić. Though the odds were against his, Monfils triumphed in straight sets 7–6, 7–5. His quarter – final draw was with James Blake, who he had met earlier at the French Open. This time Blake succeeded. After having lost a set, Monfils retired as a result of a back injury. This injury effectively ruled his out of the Nottingham championships due to take place the following week.
In the French Open, Monfils reached a semi-final berth for the first time in any Grand Slam, becoming the first Frenchman in the semifinals since 2001. Monfils was defeated by No. 1 seed Roger Federer 2–6, 7–5, 3–6, 5–7.A shoulder injury forced Monfils to withdraw from the 2008 Wimbledon Championships shortly before he was due to play his first round match.Monfils was selected to play in the Olympics in Beijing by France losing to 3rd seed Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals 6–4, 1–6, 4–6.At the US Open Monfils lost in the fourth round to Mardy Fish in straight sets after having defeated former World No. 3 David Nalbandian again, in straight sets 6–4, 6–3, 6–2.In the Thailand Open Monfils reached the semifinals losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 0–6, 3–6.Monfils lost in the final of the BA-CA Tennis Trophy 4–6, 4–6 to Philipp Petzschner in the final.
His recent knee injury, caused by Osgood-Schlatter disease resulted in his withdrawal from the Rome and the Madrid Masters. He however competed at the Roland Garros, and won his first round match against Bobby Reynolds 6–2, 6–3, 6–1. He then completed another straight sets victory in the second round by overcoming Victor Crivoi 6–4, 6–3, 6–3. In the third round, Monfils beat Jürgen Melzer 6–2, 4–6, 6–3, 6–1. Against Melzer, Monfils made one of the most spectacular plays[says who?] of the tournament, hitting a diving lob back to Melzer, sliding to save another point of Melzer and then putting the point away. He then played a much anticipated fourth round match against Andy Roddick, who made 28 unforced errors and allowing Monfils to win in straight sets 6–4, 6–2, 6–3. Monfils lost, as in the previous year, to Roger Federer, this time in the quarterfinals.Monfils withdrew from the 2009 Wimbledon Championships due to a wrist injury.Monfils returned to competition at the 2009 Montreal Masters. In his first round match he defeated former grand slam champion Marat Safin 6–2, 3–6, 6–2. He lost to qualifier Juan Carlos Ferrero in his second match 6–3, 7–6 ending his Master Series campaign.In the 2009 US Open he lost to world No. 3 Rafael Nadal in the fourth round in four sets.
Monfils started 2011 with the AAMI Kooyong Classic, where, in the final, he lost to Australian former world number 1 Lleyton Hewitt 7–5, 6–2. Monfils was seeded 12th in the 2011 Australian Open, where he was defeated in the third round by Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland 7–6, 6–2, 6–3.Next, Monfils played the 2011 SAP Open. He was able to reach the semifinals, before he had to withdraw with a left wrist injury that had been affecting him since January, and will miss approximately four to six weeks.In the 2011 french open, Monfils defeated 7th seed David Ferrer 6–4, 2–6, 7–5, 1–6, 8–6 to reach the quarter finals. In the quarterfinals, he lost to Roger Federer 6–4, 6–3, 7–6.Monfils entered Wimbledon 2011 as the ninth seed. In the first round, he defeated Matthias Bachinger of Germany 6–4, 7–6, 6–3. In the second round, he defeated Grega Zemlja 4–6, 6–3, 6–3, 7–6. Monfils was defeated in the third round by Lukasz Kubot of Poland 3–6, 6–3, 3–6, 3–6.
Gaël is nicknamed "La Monf", or occasionally "Sliderman" due to his unusual sliding technique, especially on clay surfaces. He is of Caribbean heritage: his father, Rufin, a former football player employed as an agent for France Telecom, comes from the island of Guadeloupe, France. His mother, Sylvette, comes from the island of Martinique, France and is a nurse. He also has one younger brother, Daryl.Monfils considers Arthur Ashe to be his favorite player. He is fond of listening to music, particularly R&B. If he did not play tennis, he would play basketball. He is a huge fan of NBA team Denver Nuggets and his favorite basketball player is Carmelo Anthony. His best friends are countrymen and former juniors Josselin Ouanna and Paterne Mamata and fellow pros Richard Gasquet, Gilles Simon, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Monfils is also a fan of football and his two favorite football clubs are Arsenal F.C. and Paris-Saint Germain.He was coached by countryman and former ATP pro Thierry Champion (since September 2004) but they parted company in September 2006. Nevertheless, Monfils's fitness trainer is still Rémi Barbarin. Monfils announced a partnership with a new coach, Tarik Benhabiles, in May 2007. However, for the 2008 season, Monfils has hired Roger Rasheed as his coach.He has tattoos on both wrists, and giant wing tattoos on the lower half of his back. Monfils also appeared in the music video for "Hello" by Martin Solveig and Dragonette. He arrives at the end.

BEST POINT 2009 - GAEL MONFILS