Monfils Sets Grass Tie-Breaker Against Mannarino

Gael Monfils began his year on the highest note possible, claiming his seventh ATP World Tour title at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open. But entering the week, the Frenchman had reached just one semi-final since, at the Argentina Open.

However, the former World No. 6 has found his game this week in Antalya, defeating Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 7-6(3), 6-4 on Thursday to reach the final four at the Turkish Airlines Antalya Open.

“I’m happy,” Monfils said. “I think my game today was great. I served very good.”

Monfils won 91 per cent (42/46) of first-service points against Garcia-Lopez, and saved the only break point he faced in the encounter. It is Monfils’ first tournament since Roland Garros, where he fell in a five-set thriller against David Goffin in the third round.

Now, the fourth-seeded wild card will enjoy his efforts, before turning his gaze to the semi-finals against a familiar grass-court foe in top-seeded compatriot Adrian Mannarino. Both of the Frenchmen’s FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings have come at Wimbledon. Monfils triumphed in straight sets three years ago, while Mannarino was victorious in five sets last year.

“I didn’t even think about it. I’m just happy I won the match. I will have time to think about the next game. But now, just coming off the court, I’m happy about my performance. I’m happy with the way I played. Tomorrow I know is going to be a big match. Always, the semi-finals are big. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

Mannarino continued his pursuit of a first tour-level title, beating Millennium Estoril Open champion Joao Sousa by an identical 7-6(3), 6-4 scoreline to advance to the final four. The Portuguese had won the pair’s only previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting in Acapulco four years ago.

Mannarino has reached four ATP World Tour finals (2 in 2015, 2 in 2017). The 29-year-old left-hander reached the final in Antalya a year ago, falling against Yuichi Sugita.

“I’m just trying to play my best every time I step on the court for a match,” Mannarino said. “I was just trying to fight on every point… that was a really, really close match.”

Did You Know?
Adrian Mannarino is one of four players in the Top 30 of the ATP Rankings without an ATP World Tour title. The other three are British No. 1 Kyle Edmund, South Korean Hyeon Chung and #NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov.