Roland-Garros: “I lived like crazy”, a magical night by Gael Monfils

It’s 00:18 AM Tuesday to Wednesday and Gael Monfils is passing out on Central, both intoxicated with fatigue and happiness. Lying on the ground with his back on the ground, his arms outstretched and looking up at the sky, the Parisian wept bitterly after the winning backhand that touched the edge of the net. Then he rubs his eyes like he really believes it. At the end of a frilly, breathless, incredible match, much in his image and likeness, he had just beaten the solid Argentinian Baez at the end of the 5th set and the bout 3:47 (3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 1- 6, 7-5).

“I experienced something crazy,” he says in the press room, when the clock already shows 1:30. I managed to find unexpected solutions. The atmosphere was amazing. Emotionally, I put him in the top 2 with the match against Cuevas at Lenglen. (won in five sets in 2015). But there I start to get old, and I had less chances to win … This is one of the best moments in the sport that I have had. »

“I haven’t won a single game since I became a father”

In the almost two decades that he has walked the courts of Roland-Garros, the former world No. 6, who has fallen to 394th, has accustomed the public to incredible scenarios. But in front of the red-hot stands as it burns to its last flames at nearly 37 years old, the baffling Khabs raised the bar even higher.

After all sorts of ups and downs, Monfils lost 4-0, the ball 5-0 in the final set. On the edge of the abyss. Nearly six feet underground before a dizzying resurrection, despite a body crippled by convulsions and barely able to walk…

“The truth is that at 3-0 I said to myself: I haven’t won a single game since I became a father. (his daughter Skye was born early last fall) and my daughter in Parishe smiles. I’m still going to win one! I began to play more relaxed, fiddle around in my head, be a little less in the match, taking the energy of the audience, continuing to believe in myself. To be honest, I have no words…”

Monfils made Monfils. For example, completely missing the fourth run to try to restore at least some semblance of health. “I’m letting go, I can’t take it anymore and I’m doing it very consciously,” he laughs. It seems silly, but it’s crazy, I just say to myself: I will recover and I will be n … in the 5th! »

“I want to love the end”

Returning to the track in March after a seven and a half month absence due to a recurring right arch injury, the former French No. 1 has lost seven of his eight matches and won his eighth…by waiver. He hasn’t won in five sets in two years. Suffice it to say that this return to full light is as much a miracle as this intangible but implacable magic that is born every time he sets up his snowshoes in the western part of Paris.

“I don’t have a specific date, but the end is coming soon,” he said before the match. I want to dig the end. I am satisfied and happy. I said well, there is nothing more to lay on me. Let the people who liked what I was able to do come and have a good time. »

And what a moment! It is still quite rare to see a referee allowing the Marseillaise to be completely over during a game before asking to restart the game … “It’s all really exceptional,” Monf surprised.

On Thursday, on the next lap, the march will be much higher with the Danish scarecrow Holger Roon (#6) and the tank already in full swing. Monfils has not won two matches in a row in Paris for four years. But whatever the outcome. These last games gave him confidence and removed any fears associated with his injury. “The first round was a great party,” he says. Let’s try that the second one too. Don’t worry, I’ll be ready…”