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Australian Open: Monfils resisted but stopped in quarters against Berrettini

2022-01-25T14:04:21.824Z


Led two sets to nothing, the French No. 1 pushed the Italian into a fifth round before cracking. On Friday, the world No. 7 will face Na


In the heat of the Australian night, the step was finally too high.

And yet… Gaël Monfils, 35, will not experience the joy and satisfaction of a Grand Slam semi-final for the third time in his career.

After having passed without incident and often with the manner its first four rounds against players within its reach, the Habs ran aground on a major obstacle, Matteo Berrettini (6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 3 -6, 6-2 in 3h49).

The Italian, 25, is a strong man.

Last year, only an abs injury (forfeited before his 8th in Melbourne) and Djokovic (in the final at Wimbledon and quarters at Roland-Garros and New York) had beaten him in a Major.

But this defeat will leave regrets to the French, able to come back from nowhere to afford a fifth set before cracking.

And who especially entered the match a little too late…

From the start of the match, the duel of the

men in black

turns to the advantage of the Italian.

Impressively powerful, the world No. 7 distributes his big forehands and quickly achieves a white break at 2-2 on a disaster service game from the Frenchman.

Dominated, Monfils can do nothing but let the storm pass.

pic.twitter.com/QP89lLyin6

— Tennis Legend (@TennisLegende) January 25, 2022

Watching for the small thinning at 5-4 on the Transalpin face-off to conclude the set. On an incredible long-line setback, the Parisian offers his only chance to come back. Quickly erased by an ace from his opponent, imperial on his services. The Frenchman thus scored only three points on Berrettini's first four service games, who finished the set with authority (6-4 in 36 minutes).

For the first time in the tournament, after four perfect laps, the No. 1 tricolor concedes a set. And is not far from cracking at the start of the second, with three break points to save. The luck of the protege of Richard Ruckelshausen and Günter Bresnik comes at 2-1. A game that he is probably not about to forget. Monfils took advantage of Berrettini's lack of first serves to lead 15-40 but he was too timid on the second serve from the Roman, who then returned to 40A on an impeccable volley serve. Then dismisses the third and last opportunity of the Habs with an ace.

Then begins an extraordinary showdown that lasts more than twenty minutes and will leave traces in the legs and in the head.

Berrettini ends up getting out of it.

At 3-3, a big drop in speed from Monf and a new redacted service game with new balls gave him the break on a plateau.

A little resigned, Monfils multiplies the faults.

The Wimbledon 2021 finalist, whose backhand we nevertheless laugh at, shines in the slice and is quick to take a two-set lead (6-4 in 62 minutes)…

🇬🇧🤩 BUT OUUUUI GAËL!

Monfils revives and returns to a set of Berrettini.

Big mental of the French!

#AusOpen



Follow the outcome of the match on Eurosport's antenna, website and app #HomeOfTennis pic.twitter.com/ZTHfnb4wlQ

– Eurosport France (@Eurosport_FR) January 25, 2022

It is therefore difficult to imagine seeing the scenario of the quarter-final of the US Open 2019 repeated, won by the Italian with the goal of suspense in the tie-break of the fifth.

Especially since Monfils still has to annihilate three break points at 1-1 in the third set.

But under the eyes of his wife Elina Svitolina, he finds aggression in his shots, plays much closer to his baseline and begins to dictate the exchange regularly.

After missing a break point at 2-1, he finally manages to make the difference at 3-2 on the first double fault of the match from a breathless Berrettini… In front of a crowd at the Rod Laver Arena delighted to have more a little for his dollars, the Parisian, arms raised and frowning, won the third set (6-3 in 43 minutes).

Berretini will find Nadal in half

He is even very close to widening the gap on the first game of the fourth but Berrettini comes out on a winning service. Faced with the variations of Monfils, the Roman is on a thread. Who cracks at 2-2 with a huge uncrossed forehand from the hexagonal No. 1 on the baseline to score a new break. The Frenchman is master of the court and returns to equality with his 5th set point on the service of his rival at 5-3 (6-3 in 50 minutes). We then take out the statistics to see that Monfils has been led thirty times two sets to nothing since his debut on the circuit. For two small victories… in Australia.

But Berrettini doesn't care about numbers or fate. From the start of the fifth, cheered up by a long break, the Italian regained his senses. And a lot of intensity. Monfils pays him cash on his first service game. Barely time to breathe and the Transalpine leads 4-0. The dream is already almost over. One last forehand into the net. 6-2, close the ban...

On Friday, Berrettini will face Nadal in the semi-finals.

Winner of Shapovalov in 5 sets, the Spaniard was very hot.

"Physically, I was destroyed", blows the Mallorcan, who has just returned to the circuit after six months of absence due to a foot injury.

Monfils will return to Europe with a lot of confidence and certainty about the new aspirations of his game (he also won the Adelaide tournament before the Australian Open).

But also a frustrating feeling of incompleteness…

Source: leparis

All sports articles on 2022-01-25

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