By Laurent Fourvière
– Published on Sep 27, 2024 at 10:00
During an interview, Gaël Monfils decided to talk about tennis legends, particularly Rafael Nadal.
In the demanding and competitive world of professional tennis, Gaël Monfils has managed to distinguish himself. Indeed, with his spectacular style of play, the French athlete has managed to establish himself as an emblematic figure of this sport. Over the years, the latter has marked the history of sport. However, Gaël Monfils’ career, a bit like any professional athlete, has had its ups and downs. Nonetheless, he demonstrated incredible resilience by bouncing back from each setback and coming back stronger. However, despite his impressive career, the tennis player is not one of the legends of this sport.
The “Big 4” of tennis
The beginning of the 21st century witnessed an exceptional era in the history of professional tennis. Indeed, three players in particular have marked the sport with unprecedented domination. This is Rafael Nadal, who spoke about Kylian Mbappé, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.
Collectively nicknamed the “Big 3”, these athletes have redefined the standards of excellence in the world of tennis. Between them, they accumulate an impressive total of 66 Grand Slam titles. A collective performance is equivalent to a hold on major tournaments for more than 16 full years. And by adding Andy Murray, who managed to shine among these watches, we obtain an unstoppable “Big 4”. However, Gaël Monfils decided to discuss a side that is very often neglected.
Gaël Monfils wants to put an end to the myth about legends
During an interview with Le Parisien, Gaël Monfils decided to confide on the other side of the room. Because for him, some would benefit from desecrating these living legends. “Just because you win doesn’t mean you’re perfect. And that’s something that people have forgotten. It’s not because you win a Grand Slam that you are God or that you have the ultimate knowledge. And people lose sight of the fact that winning a Grand Slam doesn’t make you superior, whether intellectually, in your conduct or in what you do.”, he confided.
Before adding: “They (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray, editor’s note) are mega idealized. When you talk to a fan, you have the impression that the guy is telling you things and you want to say to him: “Wait but man, I was with Novak yesterday, and that’s not really it at all! Forget ! If you knew, Rafa… Forgotten (laughs)!”
Gaël Monfils: “I know that I adore him”
This is not the first time that Gaël Monfils has spoken about these legends. Indeed, after Rafael Nadal’s defeat last May at Roland Garros, the tennis player did not fail to speak out. “Watch Rafael Nadal’s match? It’s important because it’s still a legend for us all.. He comes back. It’s impossible not to look at it”, he declared.
Before adding: “When I say it’s important it’s even more. Me, I know that I adore him whatever happens and I think that there is not a tennis player who has not watched Rafa. It’s impossible. When I say it’s important, it’s the mark of respect we all have towards him in addition to the fact that we are friends with him.”
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