2023-08-30 02:36:00
Successful start for Gaël Monfils. After a promising summer, the Frenchman avoided the inaugural faux pas in this US Open by logically dominating Taro Daniel this Tuesday in four sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6[4]) and 3h10 of play. More accurate tactically, more physically solid, the French blew hot and cold but provided the essentials, especially in a last tie-break which might have embarked him in a tricky fifth set. He will challenge Andrey Rublev in the 2nd round for a highly anticipated match where he might have a card to play.
Everything was not perfect but Monfils was able to capitalize on his current confidence. After a piano start, illustrated by the loss of the first set, the Frenchman had to force himself to put life into a match with a long disturbing false rhythm. More offensive, more impactful when hitting the balls, the “Monf” knew how to break at the ideal moment to steal the second set and thus reset the counters to zero.
Service au point
From then on, he was in control without hovering over the match. Sometimes overtaken by ease, never helped by a catchy Daniel, the Frenchman alternated between consistent and less brilliant games. If he was only broken three times in this match, it was also because of an interesting service which allowed him to extricate himself from situations that were sometimes badly started (23 aces).
It was ultimately the fourth set tie-break that best summed up this tense match. With a few flashes, Monfils avoided embarking on an extended match, which was never good given the heavy conditions in New York. Points won by advancing, a magic hand and a final double fault from Daniel therefore opened the door to the second round wide for the Frenchman. He will find Andrey Rublev there for a life-size test. This summer, Monfils hung on his list of leaders (Bublik, Eubanks, Tsitsipas, Norrie, De Minaur). So why not Russian?
“It smells strong there”: When Monfils complains regarding the smell of… marijuana
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