The Gael Force is strong with this one.

Indeed, The Artist Forever Known as Monfils didn't take goodbye for an answer against Thomaz Bellucci yesterday at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, batting back a decent overhead smash for a winner:

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Despite all his trick shots over time, it's possible that Monfils has never come on so Type A in his career. We're used to seeing him flail around a bit more. What's slightly scary is that, on this particular shot, he had room to spare. And it could only remind me of a vintage Roger Federer moment against Andy Roddick that encapsulated that would-be rivalry in a nutshell:

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Monfils ultimately won his match 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4. He gets Paolo Lorenzi in round two.

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