Gaël Monfils achieved a new performance at the Masters 1000 in Cincinnati by beating the Briton Cameron Norrie, 15th in the world, in three sets 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, when he entered the running. The 36-year-old Frenchman had a good run last week at the Masters 1000 in Toronto where he notably beat the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, 4th in the world.
A battle until the end
Gael Monfils comes out on top in today’s @CreditOneBank‘s One Match to Watch #CincyTennispic.twitter.com/wd9JYZLXIU
— Western & Southern Open (@CincyTennis) August 16, 2023
He lost in the quarter-finals against the eventual winner of the tournament, the Italian Jannik Sinner, from whom he was the only one to take a set. This result allowed the Frenchman, who fell into the depths of the ATP rankings due to physical glitches, to move up to 211th place. If he is not careful, the 36-year-old “Monf”, who has become a top tennis player again, will end up raising serious expectations at the US Open at the end of the month…
“I knew there were a few things to do”
This Tuesday, from the 2nd set, Monfils dominated his opponent by pounding him with great forehands. It is his third victory in three games against the Briton, whom he had however not crossed since 2019. “I felt good, I had had good victories, I knew that there were a few things to do . I couldn’t have won today without my wins from last week. It’s confidence,” the Parisian said on the court.
Monfils could still have a lot to do in the second round, where he faces Toronto runner-up Alex De Minaur, if the Aussie beats American JJ Wolf first.