The Frenchman wants to make a career-high ranking this year.
Fresh off his first Top 10 finish since 2016 (and second of his career), Gael Monfils is setting his sights on a career-high ranking.
The Frenchman told reporters on Friday at the ATP Cup that he is gunning for a Top 5 ranking in 2020.
“I had a great year last year and I tried to set my goals a bit higher than it was for last year,” Monfils told reporters. “So, obviously, I really want to be in the top-5, so I will do anything that's possible, working-wise and with my team, to find the keys to try to enter this very short circle. It will be hard with the guys that are coming up and also with the older players. I think the top-50 is very strong. So I don't put any pressure on myself. I try to do what I can do best.”
The following day, Monfils kicked off his season on the right foot with a 6-3 7-5 victory over Cristian Garin of Chile.
Monfils won 37 matches in 2019 and claimed his 8th career title at Rotterdam. The 33-year-old enters the season ranked at No.10 in the world—he has never been higher than No.6, which he reached in 2016, his best ATP season to date.
Monfils will be tested in his next match at the ATP Cup—he is slated to face World No.2 Novak Djokovic. The Frenchman owns a 0-15 lifetime record against the 16-time major champion.
