MONFILS
Gael

• 1. Best finish at each of the four Grand Slams
• 2. Strengths and weaknesses

Gaël Sébastien Monfils is a French professional tennis player. He has been ranked as high as world No. 6 in singles by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), which he achieved in November 2016.

His career highlights include reaching two major semifinals at the 2008 French Open and 2016 US Open, and three ATP Masters 1000 finals – two at the Paris Masters in 2009 and 2010, and the other at the 2016 Monte-Carlo Masters. Monfils was named the ATP Newcomer of the Year in 2005. He has won eleven ATP Tour singles titles and been runner-up twenty-two times, and has reached at least one ATP Tour singles final every year since 2005.

Best finish at each of the four Grand Slams

• Australian Open: Quarterfinalist (2016)
• French Open: Semifinalist (2008)
• Wimbledon: 4th Round (2018)
• US Open: Semifinalist (2016)

Strengths and weaknesses

Monfils foot speed is legendary. It has been said that he could have been an Olympics-level sprinter if he hadn't taken up tennis. No shot is ever truly beyond his reach; he can run down anything, anytime, and on any surface, although clay is his most comfortable hunting ground.

Monfils has a gigantic forehand, which he can hit with speeds up to 110 mph when he flattens it out. He doesn't flatten it out too often though, and for the most part rolls it deep and crosscourt to open up his hitting zone. That tendency to play it safe has often been criticized by analysts; many feel that Monfils doesn't make full use of his natural power.

The Frenchman has a good serve, and can take the racquet out of any player's hands by slamming down a big first delivery. His second serve is inconsistent though, and he has been known to spew untimely double faults.