Monfils First Into Rotterdam Semi-finals

Gael Monfils extended his run of form by reaching an ATP Tour semi-final for the second consecutive week on Friday with a 6-1, 6-2 victory over Damir Dzumhur of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 70 minutes at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.

“It was a good one,” said former World No. 6 Monfils. “I stuck to my game plan and I am satisfied how I executed. I prepared well in the off-season and I am starting to believe that I can get back to the top of the game.”

The Frenchman will next challenge fifth-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev, the player he lost to in last week’s Sofia Open semi-finals, or Sunday’s Open Sud de France champion and 2017 Rotterdam titlist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France.

Dictating with his forehand, 2016 Rotterdam finalist Monfils upped the ante on Dzumhur’s serve in the fourth game of the first set, and the Frenchman earned a second break for a 5-1 lead when Dzumhur mis-timed a drop shot. Monfils wrapped up the 38-minute opener when Dzumhur struck a backhand volley wide.

A lapse in concentration, on a forehand volley, cost Dzumhur the first game of the second set, as Monfils ripped a forehand winner past him. Dzumhur’s level improved and a wild fourth game saw Monfils lose his advantage, but the World No. 33 immediately regrouped at 2-2 and went on to complete his seventh win in nine matches in 2019. Monfils also beat Dzumhur 6-0, 6-4, 6-0 in the Australian Open first round last month.