NEW YORK—Gael Monfils can bring Cirque du soleil acrobatics to a tennis court.
One of the greatest leapers in tennis history says it's a leap of logic to believe he dives solely for spectacle. Monfils says the reason he goes airborne is simple: He dives to win.
US Open: Monfils Masters Pouille Flies Into US Open Semifinals
"I always say if I have the ball I do it because I love it," Monfils said. "I think when I dive on the court I not dive for people. Come on. To be honest, I gonna hurt myself for people? No. I dive because I want to win the point. Definitely I want to win the point."
In an all-French quarterfinal, the 10th-seeded Monfils swept Lucas Pouille, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, to fly into his first career US Open semifinal.
Afterward, Monfils said despite his reputation as a commmitted entertainer he is a competitor first and showman second.
"You know, when you make the show, honestly, it's to entertain, but it's to win," Monfils said. "So what's the point to make the show and lose actually. That's why people think, Oh, he's jumping, he's sliding. In the end, you think I'm stupid?"