Gael Monfils is showing increased consistency and discipline. Coming into Saturday night’s semifinal match against Novak Djokovic in Toronto—6-3, 6-2—he had won nine matches in a row. And he says that, despite playing more conservatively, he’s still very much enjoying himself on the court.
Monfils won Washington and defeating local favorite Milos Raonic in the quarterfinals in Toronto. He ousted the Canadian with a high-quality performance, but only had a few stunning shots.
"I think tonight I have fun," he said following his win over Raonic. "I always have fun, you know. If one day I have no fun, I stop my career straightaway … If one day I don't want to play tennis, I think I'm one of the players [who] can say, ‘I stop.’"
The 29-year-old Frenchman is usually known for his spectacular winners and athleticism, but said his recent success is due to playing more consistently.
"I don't think I play my best tennis,” he said. “I think I play very solid, but it's not my best tennis.”
Though he hasn't been lighting up the highlight reel as much, Monfils says he's still willing to pull off his trademark winners, pointing to some of the retrieving he did against Raonic.