NATIONAL BANK OPEN

August 7, 2023

Gael Monfils

Press Conference

G. MONFILS/C. Eubanks

7-6, 6-7, 6-1

GAEL MONFILS

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English, please.

Q. Congrats on a great victory. It was such a great atmosphere on Grandstand. How much did you enjoy putting on a show for the fans in tournament?

GAEL MONFILS: It's always great. You know, it's always great to play in Canada. You know, a lot of fun always here playing Grandstand or the Center Court.

I remember I play Vasek in the Grandstand, as well, you know, and it's always, you know, great atmosphere. You know, close always the fans.

So it was great. I had a great match, great battle. And, of course, people enjoy it is just a cherry on the cake.

Q. That was one of the more high-profile matches when the draw came out, you against Chris. He's been playing phenomenal lately. How do you feel your level is right now as you're still working your way back?

GAEL MONFILS: You know, for me, it's always tough because I have some off moments, long off moment, and try to get back the rhythm with those guys, young guys.

But I feel better physically. And, obviously, everybody can see, you know, it's been week after week, better and better in the States.

So I was happy to see myself quite fast on the court after two hours' match. A little bit wiser. I still need to improve a lot, but I feel like I can battle with those guys. So I think I still got it a little bit.

Q. You talked about coming back. I was just wondering the period that you took off those few months to stay home and be a dad and allowing your wife to go out and be the competitor in the family for a while, how much did you enjoy that or get frustrated by that or just be happy at home with your baby?

GAEL MONFILS: It was too good. You know, it was too good. And it's tough, you know, to be honest, because it was too good. It's the next chapter. It's tomorrow, I feel.

You know, and I feel like my team, my wife, everybody want me to keep playing. But to be honest, you know, when I spend time, you know, at home with my daughter, you know, this is it. To be honest, this is it. It's been 20 years I'm doing that, so this is it for me.

My wife is still young. She can compete for many years. So that's why, you know, I told her it's way different where I'm at now. I love the game, so that drive me to motivate me to practice and then go away. But to be honest, home is great too. Home is great too.

As I said last year, it was a little bit different. I was 15 in the world. I didn't have to compete that much in a way just to keep my ranking. Now if I want to get back, I need to play weeks after weeks.

Do I want to do that? I'm not sure. I'm not sure, but I will see. And then, you know, time will tell.

But home is good.

Q. Where is home?

GAEL MONFILS: We live most of the time -- I mean, I live mainly in Geneva, but we spend also some time in Monte-Carlo.

So, you know, Skai, she's either, you know, when I'm back home in Switzerland or, you know, when we spend time a lot, she's in south of France or she's...(off microphone)

Q. Going back to the match, in your opinion, what was the most difficult moment in this match?

GAEL MONFILS: Every moment are tough. When you get on the court, it's tough. Then when you know your tactic is not working, it's tough.

And then I don't know what is worse, to miss completely the game when I was about to serve it out, or when I choke with this forehand on the match point, or when I couldn't even get this double break.

So, you know, all the moments are tough. And at the end, the easiest one is when I won and I shake his hand.

So, you know, I never take granted any moment. So, you know, I just tried to stay the most positive that I could and try to be as cool as I can.

And to be honest, it's amazing, and it's a little bit the last question I had, that even now, after 20 years, I can choke in a way. You know, it means so much for me to win one match. And it was actually fun, you know, to see that, even after everything, it's tough to close this match.