gael monfils

Biography

Overview
Monfils is making his debut with Team Europe at Laver Cup Vancouver 2023 and brings a vast amount of experience to the side having achieved a career-high ranking of No.6 in 2016 en route to amassing 11 ATP Tour singles titles. Three of these were ATP 500s. His career highlights include reaching the semifinals at Roland Garrros in 2008 and the US Open in 2016, and reaching three ATP Masters 1000 finals.

Off Court
Nicknamed La Monf and Sliderman because of his flexible, sliding style of play, Monfils is married to WTA player Elina Svitolina, and they have a daughter, Skaï Monfils, born on October 15, 2022. The popular Frenchman admired the late Arthur Ashe growing up and as well as tennis he excelled at Under-13 and Under-14 athletics, specializing in the 100-metre sprint. His father, Rufin, is a former football player. Known for his breakdancing skills, the former world No.1 junior was named ATP Newcomer of the Year by his peers in 2005.

Career
Monfils burst onto the tennis scene in 2004 after winning junior titles at the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon. While he has won 11 ATP singles titles, he has been a finalist on 22 occasions, including three ATP Masters 1000s. In 2023, he returned to the circuit after recovering from heel surgery and a foot injury the previous year. His best results have come on the North American hardcourt swing where he upset world No.4 and Team Europe teammate Stefanos Tsitsipas at the ATP Masters 1000 in Toronto, and top 10 players Cameron Norrie and Alex de Minaur in the early rounds at Cincinnati.

2023 Highlights
Quarterfinals: Toronto
R16: Cincinnati, Washington