He's arguably the most naturally gifted tennis player on the circuit, yet Gael Monfils has little to show for in what has been a topsy-turvy career.
The 30-year-old entertains his fans but regularly frustrates coaches and experts of the game due to his very unique take on tennis.
But when the Frenchman is on song, you just can't take our eyes off the man they call 'La Monf'.
Monfils has qualified for ATP World Tour Finals for the first time and arrives at London's O2 Arena as the elder statesman of the eight players on show this year.
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After the most rewarding season of his professional career, the man from the outskirts of Paris, is ready to show spectators what they've been missing - an ultimate showman - and a genuine dark horse contender for the season-ending tournament.
His elasticated reach and incredible leaps will no doubt leave mouths wide open in a group containing Milos Raonic, Dominic Thiem and Novak Djokovic.
The US Open semi-final rematch against Djokovic is the one match in the group everyone will have their beady eye on.
Monfils tried every trick he had to upset the Serb's rhythm at Flushing Meadows - without success - and he's only too aware that he will have to change his game plan if he's to record his first every victory over Djokovic in 14 attempts.
"I can't wait to take to the court and play my game," said a beaming Monfils during a press conference at the O2 on Friday. "I have to face Novak and definitely this offers me one more chance to beat him for the first time.
"I've played him twice this year and I think I will definitely have to change my game plan, but I will be ready for him."
Monfils has demonstrated a desire to win by securing his first Tour title in two years with victory in Washington.
He has excelled on the Tour this year, but has often been the nearly man, losing finals in Rotterdam and Monte Carlo as well as reaching semi-finals in Toronto, the US Open and more recently in Japan.
A year ago he was ranked 22, having just hired Mikael Tillstrom as his new coach, so a climb of 16 spots shows a marked improvement under the Swede's tutelage.
Sky Sports tennis analyst Annabel Croft has praised the work Tillstrom has done with Monfils: "He's harnessing the talent and rawness, but still allowing a bit of that flair to flourish and also make him more consistent as well."
Monfils has long had the talent to place himself among the world's elite in the sport, but he now feels has the mentality not just to go deep, but to win major titles.
Monfils
Tennis Profiles: Gael Monfils
"The work we put on with my team this year has been good," said Monfils. "The change that we made was good and I had to make some sacrifices, but it was worth it.
"When you make a sacrifice, you __can never know the value to measure it. It showed me that everything I made this year was good and helped me to continue in that way."
One thing is for sure, Monfils the man is more in tune with himself and ready to prove to the world that he is a genuine contender in the last tournament of the season, so beware of a Gael force heading to the banks of the River Thames.
Check our game-by-game coverage from all group matches at the ATP World Tour Finals in London - including Gael Monfils - on skysports.com/tennis, our app for mobile devices and iPad and our Twitter account @skysportstennis.
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