Love is reviving Gael Monfils' performances
Gael Monfils and Elina Svitolina are the new tennis couple: the two players announced in Melbourne, during the Australian Open, the beginning of their romantic relationship. A sentimental relationship that seems to be beneficial to both, but perhaps even more to Monfils.
The Frenchman seems to have been reborn after a year spent in hibernation (since the title won in Doha in 2018). After the elimination in the second round of the Australian Open against Taylor Fritz, Le Monf reached the semi-finals of the Sofia Open and he won the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament, in Rotterdam, beating Stan Wawrinka in the final.
But during these last two tournaments, he showed new and surprising technical, tactical and mental maturity, defeating strong and dangerous adversaries. It is no coincidence that between Sofia and Rotterdam he has defeated opponents like Stefanos Tsitsipas, David Goffin, Andreas Seppi, Daniil Medvedev (who defeated the Frenchman in the semifinals of Sofia) and Wawrinka. Not only, because he reched also the semifinal at the Dubai event, where he lost against Tsitsipas.
The tennis shown in these two events by Monfils was spectacular, engaging for the crowd and, as always, fun. What appears evident is the psychological state of Frenchman; his performances seem rejuvenated, from an athletic point of view as well, and this could be the consequence of his new love life and the new emotional stability, which has given him confidence and the right determination.
At thirty-two, like many other players of his age, Monfils is also experiencing the technical maturation that other players over-30 are experiencing. Since the beginning of the season, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych have also found their rightful place. If this is added to the new sentimental situation, Monfils could live, in 2019, a new, second youth. Hoping that injuries do not ruin his season, as has often happened in the past.
Meanwhile, both on clay courts and on hard courts, the Frenchman will have the chance to improve his score, which today says eight titles won in 29 finals played. The relationship with Svitolina is just the latest example of how a sentimental life can favorably affect the career of a tennis player.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2TuI18w
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