By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday, April 7, 2025
In an exhilarating matchup in Monte-Carlo, Gael Monfils, at the age of 38, demonstrated his enduring prowess by overcoming qualifier Fabian Marozsan with a scoreline of 4-6, 6-1, 6-1, advancing to the second round.
Celebrating two decades since his inaugural appearance at Monte-Carlo, Monfils has continued to defy expectations. He has boosted his Masters 1000 record to 6-2 this season, and stands at 15-5 overall.
After reaching the finals in Monte-Carlo in 2016, Monfils admits that he now prefers the hard courts, yet his latest display has proven that he remains a formidable competitor on clay.
“Hard courts have become so slow that they feel almost like clay,” shared the 44th-ranked Monfils. “The distinction lies in footwork. Executing dropshots is a greater challenge, and tactical decisions become trickier since you’re less stable on the court. Personally, clay has always presented more difficulties than hard courts for me.”
Monfils MAGNIFIQUE 🫨 @Gael_Monfils & Marozsan showcasing their skills 🎪 #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/V4fI87BME8
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 7, 2025
Monfils Anticipates Match Against Rublev
Next, Monfils is set to face the seventh seed and former champion, Andrey Rublev, who is collaborating with coach Marat Safin for the first time at an ATP event.
“I’m uncertain about what Safin will contribute to Rublev’s game at this point—it’s too soon to determine,” Monfils remarked.
“What’s vital is Marat’s wealth of experience. As a Grand Slam champion, he has a record of winning significant tournaments,” Monfils noted, mentioning his own 4-0 record against Safin throughout his career.
“His mental toughness was remarkable, especially in pressing matches where he thrived. That is the expertise he can bring to Rublev.”
“I believe we’ll gradually uncover how this partnership evolves. It’s fairly new for Marat, similar to Andy coaching Novak. So, it might be premature to make solid judgments at this time—we need to observe for a while,” he added.
