ROLEX MONTE-CARLO MASTERS

April 7, 2025

Gael Monfils

Press Conference

G. MONFILS/F. Marozsan

4-6, 6-1, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English.

Q. Gael, you come from remarkable campaign in Miami. Now all the players that you play in Miami are already out of the tournament. You just opened your first round with a victory. I wanted to know your physical preparation, how key it is for you to come from such a demanding tournament and start on the right path.

GAEL MONFILS: You know, I rest good. I rest a few days. I was few days home with my daughter, resting good.

My first hit was in Nimes couple days ago. I think I just swing on the confidence that I have. Of course the adaptation on the clay court is a new exercise, new movement with my team and a lot of experience, because I have been doing this swap for many years.

So I guess it's confidence, and then been a little bit more fortunate today.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. What was the turning point in this match? Was it the second set when you were able to break him and have a blank game on your serve, or is it in the third set?

GAEL MONFILS: It's a good question. I don't really know. Honestly, I don't really know. I can't talk about a turning point, but when I broke him, I felt more comfortable, of course.

But as soon as the second set, I really felt good, and I was more confident in my shots and tactics. I can't tell at what moment he let go, but when I had this double break, I felt in control.

Q. At 40-All, for 2-1 to 3-1, you were able to break him and he never recovered from this crazy rally that you had. After that, you made eight points in a row.

GAEL MONFILS: These points are always strange, because you have to play the next one immediately. He had to serve immediately after, and he made a double fault after missing the first serve.

So I tried to play in different places then. I tried to slow down the pace to make him play more. So the situation is a bit biased.

The last point, he didn't really play it. I tried to put pressure on him after that, and I believe for him it was more a matter of mental shock after that rally. I was quite lucky on a very deep return, also, and I think he got annoyed more than anything else.

Q. How are you coming out of this match? Are you happy that you started this tournament well?

GAEL MONFILS: I really didn't expect to play as well as I did today. My contract is fulfilled. I won a match. I wanted to win more matches this year. Well, now I won one match out of one, so I think it's time for me to stop. (Laughter.)

I did something I haven't been able to do for a long time, like moving around well, hitting well on both sides, and I served well. This helped me. I didn't panic after losing the first set, either.

He was a bit lucky on some points, breakpoints, or 30-All, he was able to pull it out, but surprisingly I felt really good during the whole match.

Q. The next match will be even more complicated against Rublev. What do you think of that match?

GAEL MONFILS: Well, I see it all right. I don't even know what to say anymore. I see things pretty good. I played a million matches like this one, and we'll see.

Honestly, I know exactly what he's going to do. It's up to me, rather, to try to counterattack or find a solution.

I know he's going to be very intense. He's going to hit hard every time he has the opportunity on one of my shorter shots. So okay. Either I lose badly, no problem, or I win, no problem. I'm happy, because I won today, one out of one.

Q. About Rublev, talking about Marat, he added Marat to his team. You know Marat. You played him. You never lost against him. It's 4-0 for you. What can Marat do for Rublev according to you?

GAEL MONFILS: Honestly, I don't know. It's difficult to say. Basically what is important is Marat's experience. He won Grand Slams and major tournaments.

Mentally he was extremely solid. He really liked very tight matches, and he won many of them. So he has a great experience. This is what he can bring to Rublev.

I think also we'll discover what is happening little by little. It's a bit early maybe to talk about it. I think Marat has been coaching a top player for the first time this time, so it's like Andy with Novak. So it's difficult to tell right now. We need a few days, at least.

Q. A question about the weather. The weather was not always the same.

GAEL MONFILS: The weather is worse and worse. Well, this is what I'm saying, because maybe summer arrives a lot later now.

But honestly, it's not only here. The whole period on clay has changed. I remember when the weather was really hot during those tournaments, and now we arrive here, the weather is bad. And the French Open, it's been a long time we didn't have two beautiful weeks. Every time, now I have the feeling it's cold in the French Open.

I remember in Monte-Carlo, so it was cold, it's been a long time. I haven't played here in Monte-Carlo in the old way, with the beautiful weather.

Q. Does this have an impact on your game?

GAEL MONFILS: Well, physically it's tougher, because I have to be careful to warm up well, and I have to be careful on the way with my footwork, how I move, because when it's cold, you are more tense. Sometimes these kinds of conditions are not favorable when you play too hard.

Q. Did you feel a difference here compared to the first two matches on hard courts?

GAEL MONFILS: Well, the only difference is I won a bit more easily. Hard courts have become so slow that it's almost like playing on clay.

The difference is the footwork. The dropshots are much more difficult to get. Tactical choices are much more difficult also, because you're less grounded on the court. It's always more difficult for me to do well on clay than hard courts.