Alex De Minaur had bad memories of Gael Monfils in Cincinnati. The 24-year-old Australian had already lost in two sets (6-3, 7-5) to the Frenchman in the second round in 2021. Two years later, at the same time and in the same tournament, Monfils imposed again with an excellent level (7-5, 6-4), Wednesday. He could challenge world number 2 Novak Djokovic in the round of 16, if the latter defeats Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
The day after his difficult success (3-6, 6-4, 6-3) against Cameron Norrie, 15th in the world, in the first round during a match marked by a “sharp pain” at the level of the left calf after thirty minutes, the question was whether Monfils was going to feel physically fit. On court n°3, the Parisian, who had a strap placed on his left leg, quickly brought a positive response: excellent footwork, hard-hitting forehands.
Opposite, however, the opponent was tough: Alex De Minaur, 12th in the world, in great confidence and very recent finalist of the Masters 1000 in Toronto. The Australian did not give the impression of being in any physical difficulty. But he had a terrible time destabilizing. He showed himself almost incapable of it. The fault already has its own characteristics: a blocker who relies on the speed of the opponent’s ball to reaccelerate it and a regular player from the back of the court. But it is also the fault of his opponent, who has undoubtedly delivered his best score since his return to competition in March. And who offers himself a new brand victory after Stefanos Tsitsipas (4th), Norrie (15th), Alexander Bublik (25th) and Christopher Eubanks (29th).
13 of 13 at net
For just over two hours, Monfils was the boss on the pitch. Patient, offensive when needed with great accuracy. And he was impeccable at the net: 13 out of 13. The only break point he had to save in the first set? An ace. Then he took advantage, several minutes later, of a slump from De Minaur, who led 5-5 40/0 before conceding the next five points to break him on a double fault and a missed volley.
In these conditions, De Minaur rushed and had great difficulty in hindering Monfils, who continued on this dynamic. The 211th in the world managed to break his opponent, who once again missed the net, and managed to keep his lead to win, especially in front of his partner Elina Svitolina and one of his coaches, Mikaël Tillström. “I was aggressive at the right time, I changed a lot of rhythm and I varied a lot of trajectories and ball speeds”, he said on the court after his success.