Monte Carlo Rolex Masters, Monaco, ATP Masters 1000

[Carol]

Emotional dedicatory from Rafa to his grandfather who passed away las September

"This is for you grandpa"

http://tenis.as.com/tenis/2016/04/17/masters_1000/1460913233_981784.html

 

[Moxie]

Somehow I picture your comment above being different in regards to Clownfils if he had lost to Novak in the same manner.

Whatever you think of Carol's sometimes less-than-objective comments, Monfils has demonstrated a lot more steadiness all tournament and for a while now. And if you still think he's "Clownfils" because he failed to beat Rafa today, you also lack objectivity, my friend.

 

[Moxie]

Well, I'm happy for Rafa. It was a must-win. For the part of his problems that have to do with confidence, this will help.

 

[DarthFed]

Whatever you think of Carol's sometimes less-than-objective comments, Monfils has demonstrated a lot more steadiness all tournament and for a while now. And if you still think he's "Clownfils" because he failed to beat Rafa today, you also lack objectivity, my friend.

I should have been more clear but I was referring to his usual disappearing act in the decisive set. Even though he seems to take his game more seriously now as compared to the past decade the fact remains that when the going gets tough he simply taps out. We've seen it time and time again and it was no different today.

And "sometimes less-than-objective"?? Quite the diplomat. You know damn well that if Novak beat Monfils today by the same scoreline the "sometimes-less than objective" one would have talked about how awful Monfils was and that the competition just hands everything to him.

 

[brokenshoelace]

I should have been more clear but I was referring to his usual disappearing act in the decisive set. Even though he seems to take his game more seriously now as compared to the past decade the fact remains that when the going gets tough he simply taps out. We've seen it time and time again and it was no different today.

And "sometimes less-than-objective"?? Quite the diplomat. You know damn well that if Novak beat Monfils today by the same scoreline the "sometimes-less than objective" one would have talked about how awful Monfils was and that the competition just hands everything to him.

I'm usually Monfils' harshest critic and think he's a couple of steps away from being a literal clown, but I think he was just gassed in the deciding set. He had to put in a huge effort to win the second set. It's understandable.

 

[Bert]

Monfils' performance in career in a deciding set : won 98 / lost 74 = 57.3 % wins. I won't call it a usual thing to lost a decisive set. For info Federer is 64 % wins which doesn't seem incredibly better and nobody thinks Federer is bad in decisive sets
Source : Atpworldtour website

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

^^you need to look closer at decisive sets. 3 or 5 set matches ?. it distorts the figures in terms of fitness..

gael is noted for his poor fitness, he often won't even be fit enough to reach a 5th set of a major whereas other players are.

 

[Bert]

^^you need to look closer at decisive sets. 3 or 5 set matches ?. it distorts the figures in terms of fitness..

gael is noted for his poor fitness, he often won't even be fit enough to reach a 5th set of a major whereas other players are.

5th records : 15won / 11 lost = 57 % same percentage.
"noted for his poor fitness" by who ? give stats

If we take clay which seems the most demanding surface in terms of fitness :

Last year at French open he won the first round in 4 sets, then had two wins in 5 sets and lost in 4 on Federer.
The year before 1win in 4, 1 in 5 and lost in QF against Murray in 5
The year before 1 win in 4, 1 win in 5 and 1 loss in 5.

I do not see any anomalies here in term of fitness

 

[mrzz]

Well, Monfils was surely a bit more focused, and was able to put his far above average physical capabilities to good use for a few matches in a row. His lack of tennis IQ, when things are going well, also help him, as it gives him the benefit of unpredictability. If he had one tenth the talent people think he has, he would be doing this every week. But sunday he was a tough one to beat. That is what I guess some people don't get: tennis players are different animals in different weeks.

Yesterday's result is in fact quite obvious. A guy, the fifth seed, who won the tournament 2938432049832 times, won it again. Why people seemed surprised? Congrats to him.

Can we just now skip the confidence talk?

 

[DarthFed]

Monfils' performance in career in a deciding set : won 98 / lost 74 = 57.3 % wins. I won't call it a usual thing to lost a decisive set. For info Federer is 64 % wins which doesn't seem incredibly better and nobody thinks Federer is bad in decisive sets
Source : Atpworldtour website

Actually 64% for someone of Roger's stature is not good by any means. Roger has played especially bad in 5th sets over his career in the biggest moments. Monfils, as much of an underachiever as he is, still has been a top 20 player for much of his career. I'd imagine the decisive sets record for most top 20 guys is above 50%.

 

[Bert]

Actually 64% for someone of Roger's stature is not good by any means. Roger has played especially bad in 5th sets over his career in the biggest moments. Monfils, as much of an underachiever as he is, still has been a top 20 player for much of his career. I'd imagine the decisive sets record for most top 20 guys is above 50%.

I do not argue on the fact that Monfils has stats that correspond to Top20 guy.
But I read posts here saying that Monfils has a poor fitness that particularly affects his records in decisive sets. I don't agree with that. When you look at his stats there is nothing "special" to say that his fitness affects his records in decisive sets or 5 sets matches. He has quite good records in decisive sets for a Top20 player, similar to similar players for who we don't question their fitness. And I took the example of Federer because nobody questions his fitness and mental strength but for a guy who has dominated the Tour for years, his records in decisive sets are not exceptional either.

I am not a Monfils fan. I have no problem to agree with any opinion as soon as I am shown stats that confirm what it is stated.

 

[DarthFed]

^ It's a good point and I am truly surprised Monfils' decisive set record isn't quite a bit worse. There are just some recent notable examples where it seems fitness and perhaps a lack of mental strength led to some ugly decisive set losses. The match yesterday, the 2014 RG quarterfinal with Murray where he won sets 3 and 4 and then got bageled in like 15 minutes and the 2014 US quarterfinal vs. Roger where he won the first 2 sets, had match points in the 4th and then lost a quick 6-2 5th set.

 

[Bert]

These are 3 good examples : he played Nadal the best clay player on the tour, Murray and Federer who are Top#4. He was the underdog and when he plays these kind of players, IMO, Monfils has to play 110% and hope them to be 95% to beat them.

I have seen the game yesterday, but to be honnest I don't remember accurately the two others you mentionned to talk about them. Yesterday, Nadal changed his strategy at the start of the 3rd set playing more often down the line on Monfils' forehand and it works very well. I can imagine that when you play Nadal on clay, got broken at the start of the 3rd set, after 2h of play, being the underdog and remembering how hard it was to be at the same level as your opponent in the 2 first set, you may take too much risks. Nadal was back in the zone, and gained confidence with his advantage growing. In my opinion this is more than only a physical issue (even if this could be part of the issue)

 

[Carol]

I should have been more clear but I was referring to his usual disappearing act in the decisive set. Even though he seems to take his game more seriously now as compared to the past decade the fact remains that when the going gets tough he simply taps out. We've seen it time and time again and it was no different today.

And "sometimes less-than-objective"?? Quite the diplomat. You know damn well that if Novak beat Monfils today by the same scoreline the "sometimes-less than objective" one would have talked about how awful Monfils was and that the competition just hands everything to him.

Wait, talking about "sometimes less-than-objective", are you going to tell me that these last months we have been able to watch the best tennis from the top players and also from the youngest ones? like who? the only one who has played better (but not like in 2015) has been Novak, period. Nadal still with his up and downs, Federer and his knee, Muzz....nothing better, Tsonga, Monfils, Raonic, Cilic....very inconsistent, the youngest ones still far to be able to win a MS. But it doesn't mean that they can't play some tournaments better or worse and Monfils has played this last tournament much better than the previous ones, match by match

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

5th records : 15won / 11 lost = 57 % same percentage.
"noted for his poor fitness" by who ? give stats

If we take clay which seems the most demanding surface in terms of fitness :

Last year at French open he won the first round in 4 sets, then had two wins in 5 sets and lost in 4 on Federer.
The year before 1win in 4, 1 in 5 and lost in QF against Murray in 5
The year before 1 win in 4, 1 win in 5 and 1 loss in 5.

I do not see any anomalies here in term of fitness

he won some tennis matches in 4 sets did he?..wow. amazing news for a sportsman in his 20s, anyway gael lost 6-1 or 6-0 to murray in the 5th because he was wasted, as he often is..

his poor fitness stops him from winning a lot. it tells alot in matches and later in tourneys when he loses instead of being fit enough to keep his level up.

there is a spill over effect. he is not fit enough to contend for the big tourneys playing everyday in masters or playing every other day in 5set/4set/3set majors..

he has won around 10 titles, no masters, no majors. he gives himself little chance with his poor core fitness.

 

[britbox]

 

[britbox]

 

[JesuslookslikeBorg]

the vamos is real.

 

[Carol]

This is probably the best article I've read about the final

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/brain-game-monte-carlo-final-2016

 

[Vince Evert]

Good summary. Thanks, Carol for posting. Enjoy the win.