Follow Us
Rotterdam, February 17
France’s Gael Monfils overcame a determined Stan Wawrinka to win the Rotterdam Open 6-3 1-6 6-2 on Sunday, lifting his first trophy since January 2018.
In the first Rotterdam final between two unseeded players since 2008, Monfils raced past his Swiss opponent to convert two break points on his way to sealing the opening set in 36 minutes.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka, who was playing his first final since undergoing two knee surgeries in 2017, fought back to clinch the second set but struggled to keep up with Monfils in longer rallies during the decider. Despite winning his opening game to love, Wawrinka was broken by Monfils in the third game, while the Frenchman also maintained his service rhythm to dictate play in the final set. Monfils, the 2016 Rotterdam runner-up, converted another breakpoint to go 5-2 ahead before he served out the match for his eighth career ATP title.
World No. 33 Monfils, who reached the Sofia Open semifinals last week, credited his practice partner Wawrinka for his resurgence, having lost just twice in 11 matches this season. “You know this win is part of him,” said Monfils, who last won an ATP title at the 2018 Qatar Open. “We’ve been practising a lot, we’ve been talking a lot... Sorry I beat you in the final. I hope we can have many more battles.”
Opelka stings top seed Isner
New York: Reilly Opelka saved six match points and blasted 43 aces to hand John Isner another crushing loss as he stunned the top seed 6-7(8) 7-6(14) 7-6(4) in the semifinals of the New York Open on Saturday. Opelka had delivered a similar tough defeat to fellow American Isner in the opening round of the Australian Open last month when he edged out a four-set win with each set finishing in a tiebreak. The two big servers battled in another grudge match, with Isner falling short despite 38 aces of his own. Their combined 81 aces is a new ATP Tour record in a three-set match. The 21-year-old Opelka will pursue his first career singles title against Brayden Schnur, who beat sixth seed Sam Querrey 7-6(7) 4-6 6-3. — Agencies
81 Aces hit by John Isner and Reilly Opelka — a new ATP Tour record in a three-set match. Opelka hit 43, while top seed Isner hit 38
2
3
4