Work victory in Rotterdam: Monfils annoys Sinner

Like the day before, Sinner was allowed to play in prime time. His opponent was an old acquaintance, as the Sesto native and Gael Monfils had met for the first time in the distant year 2019. The 37-year-old from Paris has now slipped to 70th place in the world rankings, but can still play excellent tennis on good days. This was definitely reflected in the Ahoy Rotterdam, as Monfils kept up at eye level after a slow start. However, when it mattered most, Sinner picked up the pace and won 6:3, 3:6 and 6:3.

The Frenchman won the coin toss and decided to let Sinner serve. This tactic did not bear the desired fruit, as the Sesto team led 3-0 in no time. Monfils realized that he couldn't endanger Sinner with such a passive style of play and subsequently picked up the pace. The two-time Rotterdam champion was able to make the game a little more even, but was unable to make up for the break. Supported by his serve, Sinner brought the lead across the finish line – 6:3.

Monfils defends himself Despite winning the set, things didn't go well for Sinner from the baseline. Again and again he wasn't good with the ball, played too centrally and let Monfils, who didn't have to do much running work, force him into the defensive. The veteran also served excellently. The outsider's 4-1 lead could therefore be explained. Bitter: Sinner gave up the break with a double fault. Supported by the fans, Monfils now played his best tennis. Still, when he served for the set, he had to fend off a break point. However, Sinner didn't bring the return into the field, and shortly afterwards the score was 6:3.

The old master now sensed his chance, Sinner seemed stricken. With emphasis on seemed. Because after he got through the first service game without any problems, he broke Monfils. He was favored by two double faults from the Frenchman. The resistance of the former world number 6. but it wasn't broken yet. In a long game, he first made up a 0:30 deficit and then fended off a break point. But the Monfils tank was now empty and there was no final gasp. After 1.54 hours, Sinner struck on his second match point.

In the quarter-finals the duel against the next veteran comes up: 33-year-old Milos Raonic was already number 3 in the world, was in the final at Wimbledon, but was repeatedly set back by injuries in his career. In Rotterdam, the 309th in the world rankings beat the Dutch Jesper De Jong and Alexander Bublik (Kazakhstan) in two sets.

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Work victory in Rotterdam: Monfils annoys Sinner

Jannik Sinner's hunt for Daniil Medvedev's third place in the world rankings continues: The man from Sexten did not show a brilliant performance at the ATP 3 tournament in Rotterdam on Thursday, but put a self-sacrificing Gael Monfils in his place in the round of 500.

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