Ageless Monfils Units Rublev Conflict in Monte-Carlo

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday April 7, 2025

A marathon level – watch it under at 2-1, deuce within the second set – opened the door for Gael Monfils on Monday in Monte-Carlos, and the 38-year-old kicked by to put up a 4-6 6-1 6-1 victory over qualifier Fabian Marozsan to succeed in the second spherical.

20 years after his Monte-Carlo debut the Frenchman continues to be going sturdy. He improves to 6-2 on the Masters 1000 occasions this 12 months, and 15-5 on the season.

2016 Monte-Carlo finalist Monfils likes his possibilities higher on laborious courts today, however Monday’s efficiency proves that he nonetheless has sufficient sport to make a distinction maker on the terre battue.

“Arduous courts have develop into so gradual that it is virtually like enjoying on clay,” Forty fourth-ranked Monfils stated. “The distinction is the footwork. The dropshots are far more tough to get. Tactical decisions are far more tough additionally, since you’re much less grounded on the courtroom. It is all the time harder for me to do effectively on clay than laborious courts.”

Monfils MAGNIFIQUE 🫨@Gael_Monfils & Marozsan placing on a present 🎪#RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/V4fI87BME8

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 7, 2025

Monfils on the Rublev-Safin Pairing

Monfils will face former champion and seventh-seed Andrey Rublev subsequent. The Russian is working with coach Marat Safin formally for the primary time at an ATP occasion.

The Frenchman says he isn’t fairly certain what Safin can add to Rublev’s sport – it’s too early to inform.

“I do not know. It is tough to say. Principally what’s necessary is Marat’s expertise. He received Grand Slams and main tournaments,” stated Monfils, who went 4-0 lifetime in opposition to Safin throughout his profession.

“Mentally he was extraordinarily stable. He actually favored very tight matches, and he received a lot of them. So he has an incredible expertise. That is what he can carry to Rublev.

“I feel additionally we’ll uncover what is going on little by little. It is a bit early possibly to speak about it. I feel Marat has been teaching a prime participant for the primary time this time, so it is like Andy with Novak. So it is tough to inform proper now. We’d like a couple of days, a minimum of.”