ATP US Open: Gael Monfils storms over Pablo Andujar to hit quarters
World no. 13 Gael Monfils has been flying under the radar so far at the US Open, defeating Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Marius Copil, Denis Shapovalov and Pablo Andujar to book the spot in the quarter-final. After a fierce battle with the young Canadian that went down to the wire, the 33-year-old Frenchman had an easy day at the office against Pablo Andujar, beating the Spaniard 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in an hour and 26 minutes for the best result at Majors in three years, setting the clash against Matteo Berrettini for the place in the semi-final. Serving at 75%, Monfils lost 16 points behind the initial shot and never faced a break point, holding all the pressure on the other side of the net and stealing more than half of the return points for six breaks fro ten opportunities that carried him home safely.
Hitting 34 winners and 22 unforced errors, Gael had the advantage all the time, halting the opponent on below ten winners and celebrating one of his most impressive Grand Slam wins ever. Never finding his rhythm, Pablo got broken at love in the fourth game when his backhand found the net, finding himself 5-1 down after another break for Monfils who held at 30 in the next game with a service winner to bring the opener home in 26 minutes. The Frenchman barely lost a point on serve in set number two and Andujar was never on the same train, finding himself 3-2 down after an incredible backhand winner from Gael who confirmed the break with four winners in the next game to move 4-2 up.
Another picture-perfect backhand winner secured a break for Monfils in game seven, closing the set with three winners a few minutes later for a massive lead in no time at all, hoping for more of the same in the third set. There, he broke at love in the first game after a double fault from Andujar who squandered game points at 1-3 to fall further behind, saving a match point on serve in game seven before Gael moved over the top after blasting three winners at 5-2 to march into the next round.
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2ZtlYTH
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