ROLEX SHANGHAI MASTERS

October 2, 2024

Gael Monfils

Mixed Zone

Q. Congratulations on the win today. It continues a period of some really successful wins lately, you must be feeling really good about your game.

GAEL MONFILS: I feel good. As I said, most of the time I play tennis, most of the time I enjoy myself, and of course when you have a couple more wins under the belt it's always nicer. But it's always special for me to keep coming into press conferences, and win, so I am just like grateful for that.

Q. You've been coming to Shanghai in particular for a long time. You must also have some very positive memories of this event, you beat Roger Federer one year.

GAEL MONFILS: Yeah, I love it here. To be honest, I was saying, I played some great matches, of course, I beat Roger here, but I remember I played Richard in the indoors, because it was raining, raining, and we had an unbelievable match in the indoors. Playing David Goffin, once here, it was a very important match for me, even though I lost it. But playing Sonego, Kevin Anderson, Pospisil, I mean, I have so many good memories here. It's been five years, I think almost, not the last time, but the before, I lost three sets to Stef on the center court. As you know, it's great, it's a great city, great tournament.

The stadium again change a lot. It's been five years, I think it's changed a lot, it was unbelievable. I was just, like, even more than unbelievable, I don't know, it's a pleasure to be here.

Q. There are 11 French players in the main draw. Does it feel like strength in numbers for French tennis?

GAEL MONFILS: I guess. You know, I don't really know about that, to be honest, but I'm just happy for all of them, no matter what, you know. So, I don't really know about that, to be honest.

Q. Do you feel like a bit of a father figure to some of the younger players?

GAEL MONFILS: I'm a father for my daughter, that's for sure, that's 100 percent. But they know that they can ask me anything. I always try to help them, if they're raising some question. I'm just there, you know, to try to push some of them. Of course, I'm closer with some of them, try to push them a little bit when I practice with them, but to be honest, I'm just like a big fan of all of them. My time is past, I'm just trying to enjoy the rest I have, and as I just told you, I'm just a father of my daughter, that's it.

Q. There was a lovely photo of you with Stan Wawrinka earlier in the week. How nice is it to meet up with old friends again, keep meeting up with old friends?

GAEL MONFILS: It's unbelievable feeling. We start together, we probably are going to end together. For me it's good, because he's older than me, so it's good, I can lean on him. It's just good fun.

He's a legend. I think I'm a good player, but he's a legend, so for me to be with him on the site is just a privilege. To have such a long and good relationship that we have, it's unique, so I'm just more than happy that I can enjoy the end of my career with him.

Q. You spoke about being a father to your daughter, a lot's obviously changed for you over the years, how much change is it now that you've got a family, does that change your perspective at all?

GAEL MONFILS: A hundred percent. I'm not living any more for tennis, you know, I'm living, of course, for my sport, but in another way I just want, of course, to be a father, like a good father, I want to be a good family man, and try my best to adjust, of course, my schedule with my family time.

My priority is definitely, as I said, to be a good family man, be there for my daughter, be there for my wife, and, yeah, enjoy what I'm doing, it's my work, but just enjoy, and this is, let's say, less pressure.

Q. Are there any specific goals that you're still targeting for tennis?

GAEL MONFILS: Yeah, I want to win more matches that I can. This is big. People think it's a small goal, but it's a big goal, you know, to be able still to win matches, try to be as fit as I can, be ready for big matches. Obviously, my ranking drop, and I'm fine with that, because you will have to play early big match, big names, you know, enjoy this moment, be ready to play in front of a packed stadium. I don't want to just play those guys, those big names, I want to compete with them. Even, you know, if not win, but to be able to compete with them. It's a bit like a last dance, so this drags me like, you know, keep me in try to be in good shape to have the support and energy to play those guys.

Q. Your next match, Sebastian Baez, anything about that one?

GAEL MONFILS: It's going to be a tough one. He won a lot of matches. He has a lot of top 25, for sure. Last time we played was a crazy match, so hopefully I'll be able to put up a good match and try my best.