WATCH: Gael Monfils hits a stunning 190 kmh forehand at the Paris Masters 2021
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Gael Monfils
Gael Monfils battled Miomir Keckmanovic in the first round of the 49th Rolex Paris Masters 2021.
The Frenchman, currently ranked 19th in the world, overcame the 69th ranked Serb in three sets. The 4-6 7-5 6-3 win has opened the doors of the second round for Monfils.
However, the highlight of the match was a forehand shot by Gael. He hit a winner that went at the speed of 190 kmh or 118 mph.
Gael Monfils: Career at glance
The 35 year-old Gael Monfils is regarded as one of the best players in the world. He has a 510-295(63.4%) win-loss record on the ATP Tour. He attained a career-high ranking of no. 6 in the world in November, 2017.
Monfils started as junior. He played his first match January 2002, at the age of 15. In his junior career, he had a 83-22 win-loss record. In 2004, he won the boy’s singles titles at the Australian Open, French Open, and Wimbledon. This incredible feat put Monfils on the first position of the Juniors world ranking.
In 2004, at the age of 17, Monfils turned pro. He made his ATP debut at the 2004 Open de Moselle, where he reached the quarterfinals. He qualified for the Paris Masters that year, which was his first Masters 1000 tournament. At the end of the year, his ranking had improved from 925 to 239.
Over the years, Monfils has picked up 10 singles titles, and has made it to the semifinals of the Roland Garros (2008) and US Open (2016). He was also a quarterfinalist at the Beijing and London Olympics.
Gael Monfils: Playing style
Gael Monfils is described as an agressive baseliner. He uses placement and consistency to his advantage. He is known for his athleticism, quickly switching from defensive to offensive; catching opponents off-guard. He has a reputation for being a showman, often hitting high-risk shots. This is well evident from his very powerful 190 kmh forehand at the Paris Masters 2021. He also has a strong serve, that is capable of reaching 230 kmh.
Overall, Gael Monfils is a player of great calibre. Unfortunately, he hasn’t seen as much professional success as many of his peers.
Also read: Novak Djokovic overtakes THIS Roger Federer record as World No. 1
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Aradhana Nayak
(189 Articles Published)