Gael Monfils feels fulfilled in his love life, but believes it's a false narrative to suggest girlfriend Elina Svitolina makes him a more committed competitor.
In an all-French battle, the 32-year-old Monfils dispatched Adrian Mannarino, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, to charge into the Roland Garros third round for the 11th time.
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Afterward, the French No. 1 was asked about Svitolina putting more "vitality" into his training, prompting Monfils to reply "I just want to put things straight" proceeding to detail the distinction between his professional and personal lives.
"It's just to make things clear. With Elina, it's wonderful. It's cool," Monfils said. "It's been quite a long time we have been together. It's fabulous. And it's cool.
"But if people start telling me that I play tennis well or that I'm more rigorous or more like this or like that, so this year I change coach. So we have to put things back into context, changing team, changing coach, so I changed a lot of things. I grew up. So my love life is fantastic, but it doesn't really help me. I have the impression that I'm more afraid of my coach than my girlfriend. You see what I mean?"
While Monfils is grateful for Svitolina's support, he doesn't think it's fair to deny his coach credit either.
The former world No. 6 said Svitolina is his girlfriend, not his guru, and suggests coach Liam Smith deserves credit for helping spark title run in Rotterdam and his re-entry back into the Top 20 this season.
"So if I'm late, what's Elina going to say? But my coach, yes, he might say something," Monfils said. "But she helps me for many things, indeed. But you're right, because she also plays tennis, she understands incredibly well many things. She's also a champion.
"But in this respect, no. I say this because sometimes people forget I changed coach, and he does excellent work. And people put too much focus on Elina. She helps me, yes. But my coach is new and he's really helping me a lot and he has a different way of working.
"And people say, Well, he's more stable in his love life. In general, I'm not talking to you specifically. But my coach, well, he loses credit, which he deserves."
Svitolina and Monfils went public with their relationship during the Australian Open.
The pair have their own shared Instagram account, @g.e.m.s.life, which got a big boost when Roger Federer video bombed the couple in Dubai.
Photo credit: @g.e.m.s.life