Fans are excited for Carlos Alcaraz and Gael Monfils' match at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, but the Frenchman does not rate his chances against the Spaniard.
Alcaraz and his experienced opponent are two of the most watchable players on the ATP Tour. The 38-year-old Monfils has been a crowd favorite for many years due to his athleticism and showmanship.
Monfils' longevity is incredible. The number of injuries he has had to overcome makes his level at this late stage of his career even more impressive, with no end in sight yet.
He became one of the oldest ATP Tour champions ever after winning last year's Stockholm Open as a 37-year-old, overcoming Pavel Kotov in three sets to seal the 12th title of his long career.
Alcaraz experienced first-hand what the veteran is still capable of earlier this year. The Spaniard lost to Monfils in three sets at the Cincinnati Open, one of the most surprising results of the season.
Monfils may also be helped by Alcaraz admitting he felt pain during his victory in the previous round in Shanghai, although the 21-year-old did not seem overly concerned about it and expects to be ready for his next match.
Some may have expected Monfils to be more confident than most players before a match against Alcaraz after his victory against him in Cincinnati, but the Frenchman's tone was the opposite.
The former US Open semifinalist said Alcaraz would probably crush him during their match and believes he was lucky that the four-time Grand Slam champion was far below his best when they met at the Cincinnati Open.
"No, no, I think he will beat me. He will crush me a hundred percent. I think I was just lucky, as I said. Last time I was very fortunate, and it was not a good match from him, and one of my good match from me."
"His level is unbelievable. I have also done great myself, but he's, as I say, coming up legend. So, I guess he will crush me, but as I say, I will do everything to not be crushed too easy."
Monfils is not putting himself under any pressure and stated anything he achieves against Alcaraz would be a bonus. He also feels his experience allows him to talk honestly about how likely he is to cause an upset.
"But everything is bonus, it's bonus. It's not like I come up on the court, of course, with the attitude, because I have the experience. But now I have the experience, and I can talk like for real, this kid is something else."
"So, honestly, it's going to be a 99 percent chance for him, but just to get a percent, that's why you go. I'm going to enjoy myself, but as a real man I tell you, no, this kid is something else."
Monfils is grateful to be still playing to experience matches against someone like Alcaraz, who he knows will be remembered as one of the greatest ever at the end of his career.
"It will be, for me, a really tough one, and some matches that you always like to play, in this stage of my career, is to play those great players. As I say, coming up legend. For me, it's just an honor to be on the court with this guy tomorrow, so it's going to be great to face him again."
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