Gaël Monfils will retire at the end of the year as one of the most inspiring players in French tennis history.
Naomi Osaka considers Gaël Monfils her personal greatest of all time (GOAT), even though Novak Djokovic has more Grand Slam trophies. Osaka believes inspiring others is a significant measure of greatness.
Osaka’s Inspiration and Monfils’ Impact
Osaka explained that seeing representation is important, referencing Serena and Venus Williams as inspirations on the women’s side. She also looked up to Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on the men’s side. Osaka believes Monfils has inspired many players, particularly young, black French players.
Monfils’ Tennis Career
Monfils has 13 titles across his 22-year career. He competed for titles during the era of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Djokovic. He reached a career-high ranking of No. 6 in the world.
Monfils’ athleticism and shot-making captivated fans. His play offered a counterargument to tennis’ reputation as a stuffy, inaccessible sport. He often flung himself across the court to make a shot.
Memorable Moments on Court Philippe-Chatrier
Monfils often displayed indefatigability on Court Philippe-Chatrier. He is scheduled to play what could be his last match at his home Grand Slam against Hugo Gaston. In previous matches against Hugo Dellien and Sebastián Báez, Monfils overcame challenges, including cramps, to rally.
His disposition made him a popular player. A lasting image of Monfils’ career might be him keeling over with exhaustion after a marathon point, only to look up with a grin.
Félix Auger-Aliassime mentioned that Ben Shelton only watches Monfils highlights. He said that players like Monfils are an inspiration for players who were not necessarily the same background.