ROLEX PARIS MASTERS

November 3, 2021

Gael Monfils

Press Conference

G. MONFILS/A. Mannarino

2-6, 7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French.

Q. Can you tell us about the decider in the match, how you managed to swing the match around? And what about this injury you sustained?

GAEL MONFILS: I had a problem with the muscle. I had a problem on my footwork. It seemed insignificant. He wronged-foot me. I felt an electric discharge in my leg. It was bothersome.

I felt that it was okay at the moment, and then I managed to win two, three points, and then I didn't feel that well. I said to the physio that I would see him at the side change. The physio said, we should get out, because I was to put the strap higher. He taped me, gave me some painkillers, and then I needed 20 minutes for the medicine to be effective. Then it was 6-2. I was a bit pessimistic at the time. I thought I should try and keep on trying.

I knew that if I played aggressive, if I served well, this is what my coach said, and I listened to him. Then I warmed up, as well, from a muscular point of view, and I started to focus on the court and less on my pain.

He played very well. It was hard for me to outpace him. I broke him. He broke back straightaway. Everything was decisive at the tiebreak. I was more aggressive than him at the tiebreak. I felt that he was having a letdown during the last two points, and then for the third it was the same. There was a lot of intensity. I tried to make him run as much as I could. He was more affected. This is how I managed to get the upper hand.

Q. What is your feeling after such a riveting match?

GAEL MONFILS: I'm quite frustrated. I hurt myself, and I'm upset about this.

I felt good. I'm glad that I have won. I'm glad to have got the upper hand in an aggressive match. The opponent is difficult to play. I managed to be more patient and to be more aggressive. But I'm quite frustrated, because I hurt myself.

Q. When we see you play, we think that you are okay but you're not?

GAEL MONFILS: I'm going to have an x-ray, so we'll see how my body will react. When I'm 100% fit, I have not defeated ever Djokovic so far, so now that I'm not 100% fit, my chances are very low. I will see what decision I will make. We'll see.

Q. Regarding your upcoming match with Djokovic...

GAEL MONFILS: Right now I just want to do this check and make sure that it's not more dangerous than it should be.

I lost 17 times against him so far, you know. I try to outpace him, to make it difficult for him. Sometimes I have managed to have match points, but I never managed to find the right key. I need to find the key to upset him and to win.