Unforgiving

Pamela, down in the comments, wrote:

The key to this that seems to be overlooked is that Monfils had 83% first serves in. That's huge!

I like him, but I'm not a fan but good for him. I have my doubts as to whether or not he'll keep that up as the year progresses.

Rafa Rafa Rafa, darling work on your serve. Good grief. That's my only wish about his game these days. Beef up his serve and remain aggressive. Please, for me. Thanks.

Spot on regarding Monfils.

Rafa's serve will always be inconsistent. I've written at length (not here, though, ironically) about it. It has improved more than I originally imagined, but it's simply never going to be a consistent weapon. Never. He's not a natural lefty. He doesn't throw with his left hand. I think he's doing the best he can with that thing.

His "hardcourt woes," as some like to call it, exist because cement doesn't do anything for his serve. Grass and clay help it tremendously, but the concrete is unforgiving on both his serve and his knees.

And he knows it. Which is why I've always believed that when hardcourt matches start putting too much pressure on his game, he simply doesn't fight it out in quite the same way that he fights it out on the softer surfaces. Not anymore, anyway. His body simply can't take it.

That he has won the big titles on the hard stuff that he has won is a testament to his overall talent and his true grit.

Match Highlights