Monfils Vs. Gulbis Match Was An Entertaining One

Written by: Staff on 30th May 2013

Monfils Vs. Gulbis Match Was An Entertaining One

epa03703470 Latvia's tennis player Ernests Gulbis returns the ball to Spain's Rafael Nadal during their third round match of the Italian Open tennis tournament at Foro Italico in Rome, Italy, 16 May 2013. EPA/CLAUDIO ONORATI |

John McEnroe, when calling the Gael Monfils v Ernests Gulbis second round match at the French Open, said, “As far as head cases go, these are the cream of the crop right here.”.

Yet the pair produced by far the most engrossing match seen at Roland Garros in the first four days of 2013’s second Grand Slam event and Monfils, a past darling of the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd after twice reaching the semi-finals, multiplied French support with some stunning tennis in his 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 6-2 win and some outlandish on court antics.

During a changeover before the fourth set, Monfils felt so enamored by the crowd, he took out his smart phone, set it to video record and contorted his body round to take a 360 degree memory of the support he was being afforded as they engaged in a Mexican wave.

Monfils did act within the rules as he requested permission from the chair umpire to use his clearly branded cell phone. Although yet to master English, he said: “I ask, `Can I allowed to tape the wave? He [the umpire] tell me, `Sure, you can.’ So I say, `OK, I will tape it, like quick. No worries.

“Maybe with YouTube I will have some video editing.”

Monfils, ranked 81st but a Challenge winner in Bordeaux a couple of weeks ago and beaten finalist in Nice last weekend, now looks likely to have another long run in the competition. Unlike so many of his compatriots, he feels no pressure by playing at Roland Garros and said: “I feel very great here.

“You know, it’s my hometown. I feel great. I have different energy. The spirit is great here with family and friends. And the crowd is 100% behind me, so it’s just amazing. For sure, deep inside my dream is to win a slam and deep inside I know I can make it.”

Gulbis, another of male tennis’ hugely talented underachievers but nevertheless showmen, contributed to the festivities with some magical play at times and offering to get Monfils water from the courtside fridge.

Afterwards he blamed his demise on a lack of fitness, which he now intends to work on, but also took a dig at the esteemed top four of men’s tennis.

“I respect Roger, Rafa, Novak and Murray but, for me, all four of them are boring players,” Gulbis said. “Their interviews are boring. Honestly, they are boring as crap. I often go on YouTube to watch the interviews. With tennis, I quickly stop. It is a joke.

“It’s Federer who started this fashion. He has a superb image of a Swiss gentleman, perfect for him. I repeat, I respect Federer but I don’t like it that young players try to imitate him. When I hear them answer like Roger, I am terrified by phrases like: ‘I had a little bit more success at certain moments and that is how I won.’ I do not want to hear in an interview a guy who I will not name, but who I know well thinks all his opponents are *** ****, putting on an act.”

Gulbis, the son of a Latvian oligarch, has never been worried about his reputation in the locker room and too many times has been accused of being both conceited and indolent in his attitude .

“I want to say what I think,” he continued. “And if my prediction is that I am going to win the match, it doesn’t bother me to say so. I would like interviews to be more like in boxing. OK, maybe those guys are maybe not the brightest on earth, but when they face each other down at the weigh-in, they bring what the fans want: War, blood, emotion. All that is missing in tennis, where everything is clean, and white with polite handshakes and some nice shots. While the people want to see broken rackets and hear outbursts on the court.”

©Daily Tennis News Wire

Topics: Ernests Gulbis, French Open, Gael Monfils, John Mcenroe, Roland Garros