It’s time to check in with the male half of G.E.M.S. who pleasing fans (and surely, the tournament director) by adding a side of doubles to his current efforts in Indian Wells. Watching Gaël Monfils play always means there will be highlights…and lowlights. And, in the relatively low stakes of the doubles — with Adrian Mannarino — at this event — there are plenty of both to go around. Here’s an unscientific list of things I’ve seen in no particular order.
- Two leaping lobs off of smashes that had Monfils up against the backstop — the second lob hit the net and trickled over for a winner, amusing everyone, even the chair umpire.
- Barely reaching to do a between the legs half-volley that just rolled into the net.
- Playing I formation and simply staying up front, in the middle, while Mannarino kind of stood behind him (this was not successful).
- A lot of laughs with Mannarino
- A lot of good backhands
- Some not so good backhands
- A halfhearted challenge that actually was a close call
- More laughs with Mannarino
- Team spirit
- Tennis Channel break: Federer Interview mentions that Gaël asked Fed to pump up the G.E.M.S. instagram with a photobomb
- This:
- La Monf can use my phone anytime!
- P.S.: They didn’t win.
- P.P.S.: They didn’t care.
- P.P.P.S.: Neither did anyone else.
