Gael Monfils' best 2014 hot shots
From marquee matches to feisty feuds, to major meltdowns and the tennis Twitter, and all of fashion faux-pas and sexy, skillful shots in between, SI Tennis' Year-End Awards have the entire span of the 2014 tennis season covered. Check back throughout the month of December to see the best and worst of the season.
Gael Monfils rebounded from a poor 2013 season -- he fell outside of the top 100 after injury woes -- to get himself back in the top 20 with a year-end No. 18 ranking. Monfils playing well is an absolute boon to the sport. More match wins means he has more opportunities to take the court in front of the cameras to show off his unparalleled athleticism and shot-making skills. His competitive relevance is a game-changer and makes the sport look fun and dynamic.
Our post on the best ATP shots and points of the 2014 season could have including all of the shots below, so we decided that La Monf deserved his own seasonal highlight reel -- not only out of fairness to him but also to his colleagues.
The jump-forehand winner.
Against Alejandro Gonzalez at the U.S. Open, this was so casual, so non-chalant, so...ill-advised.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/0pq3c9jO108]
The jumping between-the-legs pass.
The French weren't victorious at this year's Davis Cup Final, but Monfils made sure to show off his skills. As you do.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/oFw-FCM2LYQ]
The cat and mouse.
Patrolling the net and showing some deft touch in Paris.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/TItKjMj9_OM]
Court coverage in Bucharest.
The 360.
The fact is, if Monfils were an efficient mover he would never find himself in the position to make these dazzling plays.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/I8b0GLuOmZQ]
The front-side tweener.
He could not be contained against Novak Djokovic in Toronto.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/HwYGzj1j5Lk]
The Rotterdam lob.
Monfils at his best against Juan Martin del Potro.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/IdAXjTsA0Zo]
Exhibition mode.
Monfils was in his element.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/fgjzw0TFRAE]
Monfils on Monfils.
His crazy shotmaking in his own words.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/jQNKSU5lFlU]
Did we miss your favorite shot or point of the year? Post your favorites in the comments or tweet us @SI_Tennis for a chance to make our Best of Reader Submissions list.
