Gael Monfils
G. MONFILS/V. Crivoi

6-4, 6-3, 6-3

An interview with:

GÄELMONFILS

THE MODERATOR: Questions in English first, please.

Q. I guess at the beginning of the tournament it didn't look so good foryou
and maybe some of the other top French players, but now how is it looking?

GÄEL MONFILS: You have to tell me. (laughter.)

I mean, always is toughfor us, but especially for me because of my injury.
But day after day, I mean, I still - westill believe we can do a great job
here, and I think we try to be verymotivated.

I mean, now it look better for us, but Ithink it's only a little step now.
Wehave to reach maybe better.

Q. Nextround must look like a deja vu for you. Third round again in Paris.
Third round against Melzer. Do you remember last year, and can you tell
alittle bit how much you have improved since that stage last year to this
stage?

GÄEL MONFILS: I don't know. You tell me. I don't know. I mean, when I go in
on the court, it was 2 sets 0 and he was down a break.

Q. He won.

GÄEL MONFILS: Score? The score?

Q. In three sets.

GÄEL MONFILS: I don't know. You just tell me, so...

I don't know. I mean, when I went to the court he was stillplaying. Now you
tell me.

Q. But you can react now, right?

GÄEL MONFILS: What is my reaction?

Q. Yeah.

GÄEL MONFILS: Relax and see - I don't know when I'mplaying.

Q. Last year you were behind one to two sets, and then you won in fivesets.
Do you remember that match?

GÄEL MONFILS: Yeah, I remember, but now it's too quick andit was too fast.
So, I mean, it's okay.

We have chancetogether, and I will have time to see. Ijust know now I'm
playing Jurgen, soit's okay.

Q. Can you remember one year ago and now, and how much have you developed?

GÄEL MONFILS: I never remember. Sorry.

Q. Do you believe that there's a thing like a Roland Garros effect on
theFrench players, that they don't play very well here? Maybe not you from
your result last year, butin general, do you think there's such a thing?

GÄEL MONFILS: I mean, actually, I'm just thinking about thenew generation.
Every time we saidFrench, but the new generation, I think we did pretty good.

I mean, every time we tryto pass one round. I think about likeMathieu
Montcourt. Every time he win around. I mean, at least it's been allright.
Josselin has been not toobad. He played very good. Jo now, and like Chardy
also.

So I mean, the new generation is always playingall right, I think, in the
French. Idon't really know about the others. Iwas too young. But, I mean, us,
the newgeneration, wasn't too bad. Every time Ithink we made a good job.

THE MODERATOR: Questions in French, then, please.

Q. Twice, three sets. Are yousurprised it's that quick?

GÄEL MONFILS: Well, yes, of course. You know, I'm like surprised, yes. I'm
here. I'm relaxed, cool on the court. Ican hit the balls really well. Today
Iwas not moving that well. I think youprobably saw this.

We discussed this withRoger. That was the problem. But, you know, after four
weeks, five weeksto play this level, even though today, you know, my
concentration was going upand down and up and down, it was quite solid, three
sets, you know, quick sets.

I'm happy and surprised, mainly.

Q. Howcome yesterday you didn't feel good? Youwere worried about your knee,
and then today it's okay?

GÄEL MONFILS: Five hours of treatment on my kneeyesterday. Oh, hell, I
counted thesehours. It was like hell, I can tellyou. A nightmare. My concern
was my knee. You know, yesterday I woke up and it wasreally painful.

I went to for an MRI,and before that, one hour with ice. ThenI saw the
physician, the MRI was so-so, and they even mentionedinjections. I don't like
injections, youknow.

So it was not really a good thing. And then the other machine, Zamora (ph). I
practiced twice in the evening. I don't know, you know.

After Jo's match I did that one hourthe evening I was back home. At least
Idid that till midnight. That is withice.

This morning I woke up, ice againbefore the match, one hour of exams. Soit
had to work. I don't know.

There was a new thing, you see. I was placed differently. The inflammation
has gone up the leg, sothey've pushed the knee down a little. So this has
helped me a lot. Hereagain today I didn't move well on the ground.

On the sides mainly, on my forehand,if I need to use my leg, my left leg, I'm
too slow.

Q. Thefirst time you said you no longer feel you are an injured player. Well,
is it really the case? Do you still think you're injured?

GÄEL MONFILS: No, when I'm on the court, no. I'm not an injured player. But
then before the match, yes. I think about this. It's different. I look at it
differently.

There is this newmachine I love, really. You know, my legis frozen all day
long, and then I run like a rabbit on the court (laughter.)

Q. What about what's happening now with Josselin? You know, he's doing
something great here inthe French Open. How come it took moretime than Jo or
you?

GÄEL MONFILS: Well, he's being treated at present. He's here. I'm very happy
for him. He really believes in it.

With Jo, you know, wetry and motivate him. We say, Well, Joshas the
potential, and he believes in his matches. And winning yesterday, he's going
to gainmore confidence. I think he has tobelieve in himself, in his skills,
because, you know, the forehand I sawyesterday and his serve, as well.

People say he's strong, but he moves a loton the court. His backhand is okay.
So I had told you I don't know how long ago,I said, There are four guys.
Three guysnow, okay.

A number of years ago I told you,two or three years ago, I said - and people
were laughing at me. I can remember that. Yeah, you know, Josselin, yeah,
people werelaughing.

Well, you know, and for González, Ibelieve in him. He specialized inclay.
The only thing that's a problemfor him, he had two five-set matches. How's he
going to be physically, mentally? Mentally it's going to be difficult. He
shouldn't think about it, you know. Five sets during two matches.

But otherwise, I think it's just thebeginning for him, and he's going to make
it throughout the season.

Q. Whatabout this new revolutionary machine you've been talking about?

GÄEL MONFILS: It's called Zamora (ph). I didn't know that. I think
thefederation bought it not long ago. It'sa machine which is like, you know,
a sort of boot that covers the lower leg upto the knee, which is draining,
massaging, and sending cold on your leg between4 degrees and 0 degrees for 40
minutes or one hour. It's good. I like it.

Q. On the court, did you feel some type of pain, or didn't you think
aboutyour leg at all?

GÄEL MONFILS: When I start, it hurts a little, and then Iknow it's an
inflammation. It's going tohurt, and there's some type of friction. But when
I can overcome the pain, it's okay.

Perhaps it's that I tryand control when I move on the court, control my
moving on the court. But I try not to think too much about it.

Q. At the beginning of the tournament, you were like mixed feelings. Would
you say that today it's a bonus foryou, and that's why you feel more relaxed?

GÄEL MONFILS: No, I'm cool, because I feel reallygreat. I can hit the balls
correctly,and unfortunately I know physically I'm not here 100%. But I'm
relaxed, because now I've gainedexperience. I feel good here on thecourt. Yet
I'm surprised with the levelof game I can develop with no true practice, just
because I believe in myabilities. So I'm happy.

Q. Well, how far will you go? Is itokay for you, four sets? Can you takefour
sets, or do you think that after three matches with a lack of practice
youwill have to pay for it? Do you thinkyou can go on and go on?

GÄEL MONFILS: Well, mentally it's okay. Physically, at the end of the match,
I wasout of breath. It was difficult for meto breathe. But it seems that I
willwork on this. Jurgen's moreaggressive. He has more dropshots, soit's
going to be another test again.

Next match is going tobe another test. That's going to be ananswer to your
question.