France’s Gael Monfils didn’t show his best form in cruising past Croatia ‘s Antonio Veic 6-4 6-4 6-4 in the second round. Next, he faces a much taller task in the form of 206cm American John Isner.
Putting his various ailments behind him, the 12th seed played an athletic and fairly effective game behind the baseline match in besting the Croat, cranking big forehand winners when called upon to ice the contest.
“I’ve had two easy rounds, and that’s never happened to me at Grand Slam before,” Monfils said
But Monfils, who is coached by Australian Roger Rasheed, wasn’t thrilled with his play.
“On a scale of 1 to 20, I would give myself a five,” he said. “Roger would probably give me a two. Against Isner, I’m planning on giving him a much better number.”
Monfils knows he has to play a much better contest against the red-hot Isner, the Auckland champion who dispatched Ireland’s Louk Sorensen 6-3 7-6(4) 7-5 on Wednesday. Isner has one of the tour’s hardest and most effective serves, and comes down on the ball out of a tree. He’s improved his conditioning a ton, and has a big enough forehand and competent enough volley to be troublesome for anyone.
“He has a monster serve,” said Monfils. “It’s going to be really hard to return serve. If he’s serving well, it’s almost a bet as to whether I go left or right. I’m going to have to try and read his serve really well.”
The 23-year-old Monfils won the Australian boys championships in 2004, and loves the Melbourne tournament. Last year, he reached the fourth round before having to retire with a wrist injury against Gilles Simon.
The former Roland Garros semi-finalist is contending with shoulder and knee injuries this week, but seems to be holding up pretty well.
He and Isner have played three times before, all which were three sets, two going to the American.
“They've all been down to the wire,” Isner said. “His athleticism, the way he can run down balls, the point's never over with him. No matter where you hit the ball, he's going to get the balls that you really don't think is humanly possible, but it is with him. So I'm gonna have to serve well and I'm gonna have to get into the net. I probably don't want to get into long, extended rallies with him.”
