Gael Monfils says he was never going to quit, but the pandemic had sucked away his passion for tennis. He’s back in the best way possible with a dominant display in Adelaide.
Fast forward to Sunday and a resurgent Monfils is the Adelaide International 1 champion after dispatching Russian Karen Khachanov, 6-4, 6-4, in a perfect tune up for the Australian Open.
Two breaks of service, in the 10th game of each set, were enough for Monfils to claim his first title in nearly two years.
The 35-year-old veteran said he “lost faith” as the pandemic sucked away his love for tennis and paid special tribute to his wife, Ukraine tennis champ Elina Svitolina, and coaching team, headed up in Australia by Richard Ruckelshausen.
“We come back strong,” Monfils said.
“Thanks to my team, first title together, Richard, thank you very much, we had our tough moments.
“I want to thank my wife Elina. She has been there always. It was a really, really tough last year for me, almost — not wanting to quit — but (I’d) lost the faith a little bit about tennis and she was there and always caring.”
The crushed Monfils, who tearfully mused “I have no confidence, I don’t feel good” after last year’s first-round AO upset to Emil Ruusuvuori, was nowhere to be seen as he won the physical and mental battle with the world No.29.
The Frenchman’s thirst to chase down balls was back, as he forced Khachanov to work deep into his service games, and manipulated the court to put him in uncomfortable positions, where unforced errors became the Russian’s Achilles heel.
The killer instinct is back for the World No.21 and there was no better example of it than when he wiped the ninth game of the second set to love, firing down aces of 219km/h and then a Richie Benaud special, 222km/h.
It rattled Khachanov and left the title for the taking.
The victory completed an eye-catching pre-slam tune up for Monfils, who will hope to continue his re-emergence at Melbourne Park.
HE FOUGHT LIKE A DOG
Once a top-10 player himself, Khachanov vowed to “fight like a dog” against the favoured Frenchman.
And he tried hard, but unforced errors killed him.
Fifteen in the first set, including crucial misses in the 10th game that sent him one down, and then another 13 freebies in the second were always going to be tough to overcome against a man who bashed 20 winners to his 11.
Khachanov, who paid tribute to his wife Veronika and son David, who were unable to come to Australia, has produced three straight third-round exits in Melbourne, but will be hoping he can transition his Adelaide International form and take another step in 2022.
THE SHOWMAN IS BACK
Ranked No.9 before Covid shut down tennis, Monfils admitted he hated playing during the pandemic because it lacked his major motivator — fans in the stands.
But, with crowds back on his side, the showman is ready to please.
“It’s amazing to play in front of you guys,” he told the Memorial Drive crowd, post victory. “That’s why I’m waking up every morning … to play in front of a full crowd, good spirit, good atmosphere, this is amazing, this is great memories, thank you so much.”
La Monf has been to the quarterfinals just once at the Open, in 2016 when he was beaten by Milos Raonic in four sets.
Originally published as Adelaide International 1 men’s final: Gael Monfils v Karen Khachanov
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