We’ll call it realism à la Gaël Monfils. Without adding to it, the Frenchman qualified for the round of 16 of the Australian Open by beating the Chilean Cristian Garin (7-6 [4], 6-1, 6-3), this Friday. Monfils hasn’t lost a run in three laps, which is still a good indicator of his form. He only spent 5:05 on the courts to get there.
In his last sixteen Grand Slam matches, he had won only once against a member of the top 20. This second success against this corporation, against Garin (19th), even if the Chilean is not the more efficient on hard, is a mark like any other of the good spiral in progress for a few months.
The atmosphere of a small “Bombonera”
Without revealing himself too much in risk-taking in a very disjointed encounter, Monfils was able to capitalize on his power at the right time, and his apparent calm in defense, while taking advantage of the sometimes enormous largesse of his opponent. The French experienced fewer air pockets on this new Kia Court, a small “Bombonera” much more filled than the 50% of spectators authorized by the judge, kindly animated by the French and Chilean colonies. And that brought him a very important victory.
Started well in the first set (3-1), he seemed to take the hit after a fall which caused a little fear for his ankle. Caught in the score, then led 4-1 in the tie-break when he was a little too wait-and-see, he won the last six points, first on two aces, then thanks to big mistakes from the suddenly feverish Chilean. The alert had passed.
His twentieth qualification in eighth
In the second set, Monfils seized the opposing serve three times, first because he was efficient on the return, and because Garin cracked on the break points (horrible smash after rebound, double fault…) . The Chilean, even if he tried to dictate the tempo, did not have the means to overflow in the long term a Frenchman firmly planted on his bases, and very efficient in the service (14 aces in total, 72% of points won on his first ball). Breakant from the start of the third set, the 20th in the world was quickly picked up in score but he finished strong. He had ended up completely wearing out his opponent.
117
Monfils obtained his 117th Grand Slam victory on Friday. Only Jo-Wilfried Tsonga does better in the history of French tennis, with 121.
Thanks to this success, his 117th in a Major (only Tsonga, 121, has done better in the history of French tennis), Monfils qualifies for the twentieth time in his career for the round of 16 of a Grand Slam tournament. He wears his 35 years well.
