The last American standing at the French Open, Andy Roddick, will face off with Gael Monfils and the entire French crowd in his fourth round Roland Garros match on Monday.
The second week of the French Open is new territory for Andy Roddick. In fact, he’s never been past the third round, and he has only reached that point of the French Open once in 2002. Roddick may have the ranking edge over Monfils, but he goes into Monday’s match as the underdog.
Roddick’s main problem on the clay is that his serve, which is his ultimately his biggest weapon, lacks speed on the slow clay surface. However, the American has improved his movement since teaming up with Larry Stefanki, and his result in Paris so far is proof that small changes to weight and fitness can make a huge difference on the courts.
Gael Monfils has been spectacular at the French Open thus far. Unlike some of his fellow French men, Monfils clearly feeds off the home crowd energy, riding the atmosphere to victory.
Monfils loves the attention and raucous support of his countrymen, and actively hypes them up into a frenzy whenever possible, especially when pulling over superman impressions to leap about the court and return shots.
Monfils was most impressive in his four-set victory over Jurgen Melzer in the third round, and if he can put in a display like that today, Roddick will be in serious trouble.
