Gael Force!

Waaay back when this little thing we call the French Open started, I took a look at the draw (as I'm apt to do for the Majors) and started making my picks. I usually do it on my own anyway, but I had even more incentive to do it for the Tennisopolis team in the Pick 'Em Challenge. Here was my train of thought when I saw that Gael Monfils was to play Arnaud Clement (since I love sharing my inner thoughts with everyone!):


"Hmm, let's see, Gael Monfils vs. Arnaud Clement. Monfils just won a Challenger on clay a couple of weeks ago, so he might be back in good form. But he won a Challenger last year before Miami, got there and bombed out in the first round. Clement's not the greatest French clay-courter in the world, but he should be able to do just enough to frustrate Monfils. Will the real Gael Monfils EVER show up? It won't happen here: Clement in five."

Sometimes I get it right, sometimes I don't; but that's what makes it fun trying to guess the outcome of a tournament. And every now and then, you get surprises like this one: Gael Monfils making the semifinals at his home Slam, taking out Tennis Talk, Anyone? semifinal pick David Ferrer in four. I just hope whatever happens next, Monfils can build on this and have the type of career everyone predicted he would have after dominating in the juniors.

(Photo: Getty Images)