Monfils finds love and perfect rhythm

Gael Monfils is in line to win back-to-back titles for the first time in his career.

Gael Monfils was so good in his early teens that even Novak Djokovic couldn't beat him in their junior level matches.
Monfils, 32, even won three Grand Slam boy's singles titles in 2004. It was the kind of run that marked him out for big things at the senior level.
But the maverick Frenchman soon realised that talent alone could never help you replicate your junior form at the professional level.
While Djokovic took his game and fitness levels to unprecedented heights, Monfils oscillated between the good and ugly, enthralling fans with phenomenal tennis in one match and frustrating them with erratic shots in the next.
Pundits have blamed his inconsistency for his modest haul of eight career titles and a single semifinal appearance at the Grand Slams.
Perhaps, now it's too late for Monfils to challenge for Grand Slam glory. But his incredible title-winning run in Rotterdam couple of weeks ago and his superb tennis in the wins over third seed Marin Cilic and Marcos Baghdatis in Dubai have given him hopes of winning back-to-back titles for the first time in his career.
Monfils, who will take on Lithuanian qualifier Ricardas Berankis in the Dubai quarterfinals on Thursday, refused to look to far ahead, though.
"Not really thinking about that. As I said yesterday, I think just to be better and better every day, just try to have a strong belief, as I showed today," Monfils said after his 6-3 6-2 win over Baghdatis on Wednesday.
However, Monfils, who is now romantically involved with two-time Dubai champion Elina Svitolina, admitted that he was feeling better than ever on the court.
"Definitely. New goals, new team, new routine. Obviously wins under my belt. Everything is going fine now," he said.
"I just try to keep doing what I'm doing. Every day a little more, a little more to improve, definitely try to reach my goal this year.
"Obviously Rotterdam, it's my second 500 in my whole career. It's big for me. It's big for my coach also because he's new with me," said Monfils who hired Liam Smith as his new coach last year.
"He (Smith) knows it is never easy to start a new relationship without wins. It's only win, so, you know, for my coach, I think he feels goods. I think we're doing fine.
"We are both happy. As I say, I try to keep on this track."
rituraj@khaleejtimes.com