Gael Monfils made quite a statement ahead of his Shanghai Masters round-of-16 match against Carlos Alcaraz as the French veteran admitted that his expectation is that he will get “crushed” by the world No. 2.
On Tuesday, the former world No. 6 overcame fellow compatriot Ugo Humbert 7-6 (7) 2-6 6-1 to reach the last-16 stage in Shanghai for the first time since 2016. By doing so, the 38-year-old also set up a meeting with the second-seeded Spaniard.
While Alcaraz will undoubtedly be the big favorite to win their clash, it should be noted that Monfils claimed a shock 4-6 7-6 (5) 6-4 win at the Cincinnati Masters two months ago. However, the current world No. 46 is not too optimistic about his chances of beating the 21-year-old again.
“It will be, for me, a really tough one, and some matches that, you know, you always like to play, in this stage of my career, is to play those great players. As I say, coming up legend. For me, it’s just an honor to be on the court with this guy tomorrow, so it’s going to be great to face him again,” the Frenchman previewed.
Monfils: Alcaraz will crush me
Since the former world No. 6 managed to upset the Spaniard when he was coming off back-to-back Grand Slam wins at the French Open and Wimbledon, the reporters probably expected the Frenchman to sound optimistic going into their Shanghai Masters. But instead, the 38-year-old pretty much told them that he would be surprised if he left the court without getting annihilated.
“No, no, I think he will beat me. He will crush me a hundred percent, you know. I think I was just lucky, as I said. Last time I was very fortunate, and it was not a good match from him, and one of my good match from me. His level is unbelievable. I have also done great myself, but he’s, as I say, coming up legend. So, I guess he will crush me, but as I say, I will do everything to not be crushed too easy, in a way,” Monfils admitted.
“But everything is bonus, it’s bonus, you know. It’s not like I come up on the court, of course, with the attitude, because I have the experience. But now I have the experience, and I can talk like for real, you know, this kid is something else. So, honestly, it’s going to be a 99 percent chance for him, but just to get a percent, you know, so that’s why you go. I’m going to enjoy myself, but as a real man I tell you, no, this kid is something else.”
Despite the Cincinnati defeat, Alcaraz owns a positive 2-1 head-to-head record against the former world No. 6. In 2022 – when the current world No. 2 was just trying to establish himself on the Tour, he ousted the Frenchman 7-5 6-1 at the Indian Wells Masters. Earlier this year, the four-time Grand Slam champion earned a routine 6-2 6-4 win at the Miami Masters.
Monfils addresses joining Roger Federer on a special Shanghai list
Now that the 38-year-old Frenchman has been through to the Shanghai round-of-16, he has also become the second-oldest player since Federer to reach this stage of the tournament. When Federer did it in 2019, he was also 38 but a few months older.
Asked about during his on-court presser, Monfils said: “Patience… to have the passion to. Play tennis. I’m patient with myself, sometimes when it’s not working. The discipline to work with my team to try to get the best out of me. At the end, it’s easy, I love the game.”
Monfils on becoming the 2nd oldest man to reach Shanghai R16
“You’re the 2nd oldest man to reach the Round of 16 in Shanghai, after Roger Federer in 2019. What’s the secret behind your longevity?”
Gael: “Patience… to have the passion to
Play tennis. I’m patient with myself,… pic.twitter.com/Aa6dSRMxLa— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) October 8, 2024
While the Frenchman is past his prime and no longer one of the best in the game, he still owns a respective 24-20 record in 2024. And for the 12-time ATP champion, just knowing that he can still play solid on the main level is enough to make him happy.
“I’m always happy. As I said last time, any win, it’s something, it means that I still got it, can still compete against great players. So, you know, it’s another one today, just happy with that,” Monfils noted.
If the former world No. 6 manages to pull off an upset against Alcaraz again, he will reach the Shanghai quarterfinal for the second time in his career. Previously, it happened in 2013, when he made the last-eight before losing to Novak Djokovic.