The French’s day: Gaël Monfils, Benjamin Bonzi and Arthur Fils out from the start, Ugo Humbert alone qualified

The time of regrets for Gaël Monfils. Author of a good end to the season, titled in Stockholm recently, the Frenchman will be able to wonder for a while how he managed not to dominate Francisco Cerundolo, certainly 21st in the world but very often off base on center court from Bercy. Beaten in three sets (4-6, 7-6, 7-5), the finalist of the 2009 and 2010 editions is already taking the door, for his 11th appearance at the Masters 1000 in Paris.

The Argentinian was right to drop to the ground when celebrating this success, because the two players put on a great show for the French spectators, during a disjointed 2h40. In the first set, the Habs, on top, dropped the first two times he managed to take his opponent’s service. Before finally making the difference at 5-4.

Quickly broken in the second round, he managed to come back against an Argentinian who was still clumsy and uncomfortable on the surface. Already out in the first round last year, Cerundolo was close to repeating the performance but Monfils missed his chance on his match point at 5-4, before completely collapsing in the tie break. And what about the third act where Mikael Tillström’s protégé broke, had three 4-1 balls before finally diving to let his opponent raise his arms? After two days, Ugo Humbert is the only French survivor in the main draw.

Seven of his compatriots therefore sank. On this Halloween day, it took a little dose of optimism not to see it as a dark series and Ugo Humbert does not lack it. Facing Marcos Giron, 59th player in the world, the French n°2 (26th in the ATP) finally pleased an audience at the Accor Arena ready to burst into flames. His victory in two sets (6-4, 6-3) is an appreciable piece of blue sky in a gloomy day.

It’s (already) over for Arthur Fils in Paris. Expected with great hope during the Masters 1000 in Paris, the 36th in the world, , took the front door at Bercy, dominated in two sets by the German Daniel Altmaier (6-2, 6-4). An elimination which could leave the Habs with a lot of regrets, having missed out on their match against an imperturbable opponent, who will face Taylor Fritz in the next round.

We must recognize the 54th in the world for this iron mentality which allowed him to achieve a great performance, in a hostile environment with an audience obviously committed to the Frenchman’s cause. Uncompromising on his play (69% of first serves and 82% of points won behind), the one who was knocked out at the start of Vienna by Monfils last week had Fils unpinned, of whom we could not see only sporadically devastating forehand qualities.

Author of too many faults, Sébastien Grosjean’s new protégé easily let go of the first act, before rebounding in the second, on the only air gap of the match from Altmaier on serve. But he approached the next game by committing three double-faults in particular, to revive his opponent. Disappointed, broken again at the worst moment, to allow Altmaier to serve for the match, Fils then left the Central Court with his head bowed.

Benjamin Bonzi had a little pressure on his shoulders. On Monday, the quartet of Frenchmen in the running (Richard Gasquet, Adrian Mannarino, Alexandre Müller and Luca Van Assche) had fallen in their entirety. By being the first French representative this Tuesday, he aimed to stop the black streak. Failed bet against Dusan Lajovic (7-5, 6-3).

The 77th player in the world, however, held on in the first set, resisting the first break conceded by erasing it in the process. Alas, a completely redacted service game at 6-5 for his opponent sounded the death knell for his ambitions in this set. The rest resembled this first set, Bonzi even allowing himself to take the advantage first in the second set before giving it back and… losing his commitment at 4-3 for Lajovic who did not ask for so much and who will face Alex de Minaur in the 2nd round.