Monfils is Succesful in ATP Debut in Record-Setting Session
OPEN DE MOSELLE
Metz, France
October 13, 2004
Monfils is Succesful in ATP Debut in Record-Setting Session
With a total of 12 players in second round action, the second edition
of the Open de Moselle will enter history as the 32-draw ATP tournament
with the highest number of French players in the main draw clearly
surpassing Bourdeaux '91 with nine (9) players.
Wild card Gael Monfils claimed his career-first ATP victory over No. 2
seed Xavier Malisse after the Belgian retired before the third set started.
Malisse, who reached the final in Lyon on Sunday (l. to Soderling) was two
points away from the win in the second set but Monfils proved to be mentally
strong and was able to force the tie-break, which he claimed 7-4. With the
win, Monfils moves into the second round and will face Olivier Patience for
a spot in the quarterfinals.
Top seed Ivan Ljubicic outlasted Raemon Sluiter 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 to enter the
quarterfinals. After losing his serve early in the first set, which costed
him the set, the 25-year-ol Croat was relentless on his serve firing 20 aces
and holding convincingly to take the victory in two hours and nine minutes.
With the win, Ljubicic earns his 30th win for the first time in his career.
Defending champion Arnaud Clement continued his success in Metz by defeating
Olivier Mutis 7-6(4), 6-1. Clement improves to 17-21 while Mutis drops to
7-13. Clement will take his perfect 7-0 record in the tournament against
Haehnel in the quarterfinals on Friday.
In one of the best matches of the day, Gregory Carraz saved one match-point
in the tie-break of the third set to close another perfect night for the
French players in his grueling 7-6(6), 6-7(5), 7-6(6) victory over Wayne
Arthurs. With the win, Carraz moves to 14-18 in 2004.
Elsewhere, Haehnel defeated Gicquel 6-4, 6-2 while wild card Richard
Gasquet defeated Anthony Dupuis in a hard-fought 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 match.
WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID:
Ljubicic: "I was expecting a tough match today, the conditions here are
perfect for him, the court is slow, the balls are heavy and he started
off really well. I was very consistent with my serve and I waited for
my opportunities that came in the second set. In the third, he miss one
or two shots in the tie-break that decided on the match."
"If everything goes well, I am playing a French until the final, so I
know I will have the crowd against me so it will be difficult no matter
what."
Gasquet: “A lot of ups and downs, but I fought until the end. I was one
point away from losing but once I saved that match point I knew everything
could happen and had my chances again. I play Gael [Monfils] if he wins
tomorrow, we played each other when we were 15, and I won, I hope it will
stay the same on Friday. I look forward to this match, I just want to try
to do the best I can."
Haenhel: "It is great to be in the quarters here in Metz. It is not as big
as defeating Andre Agassi on Centre Court at Roland Garros, but if I win a
couple more matches here I will be close to it. I don't know who I play in
the next round, I am just looking to be relaxed and play the best tennis I
can."
Monfils: " I am very pleased to be in the next round obviously. However this
is not a he I had won the match. Xavier [Malisse] retired and I think if he
had kept he still had good chances of defeating me."
WEDNESDAY PREVIEW
In one of the two All-French second round meetings, Paul-Henri Mathieu faces
qualifier Florent Serra for the first time in an ATP event. Mathieu comes off
a convincing 6-4, 6-3 victory over Kristof Vliegen in the first round while
Serra comes off an upset win over No. 8 seed Juan Monaco 6-4, 4-6, 6-0.
Bouncing back from a wrist injury earlier this year, 22 year-old Mathieu has
reached the quarterfinals in Washington (l. Agassi) and Bucharest (l. to
Acasuso). He is currently 7-8 this year and ranks 130th in the INDESIT ATP
2004 RACE. Mathieu had played in only seven ATP events coming into Metz, due
to a wrist injury, which forced him out for seven months. He posted an
impressive five-set victory over Carlos Moya to give France a 1-0 lead
in the Davis Cup semifinals played two weeks ago in Alicante, Spain.
Serra is currently ranked No. 186 in the INDESIT ATP 2004 Race. He was a
semifinalist in Seoul and reached the quarterfinals in Beijing at the
challenger level. The 23-year-old Frenchman lost a heartbreaker to Vince
Spadea in the first round of Roland Garros (9-7 in the fifth set) and
claimed his career-first ATP victory in Umag by routing Bohdan Ulihrach
in the first round before falling to Volandri in the second round.
No. 6 seed Julien Benneteau and Jeff Morrison will meet for the third time
in their career for a spot in the quarterfinals. Both encounters (on hard)
came this year, Benneteau won in the first round of AMS Miami, 6-3, 2-6,
7-5, while Morrison won the last time in the first round of Indianapolis
6-4, 7-6(6). His best performance in 2004 came in Casablanca, where he
reached the semifinals (l. to Hrbaty). Benneteau defeated Morrison, Fish
and Ljubicic to reach the fourth round in AMS Miami (l. to Coria 7-5
in the third set). He also won the challenger in Andrezieux (d. Norman)
and was a finalist at Besancon (l. to Berdych).
Morrison has reached the semifinals in Los Angeles (l. to Kiefer) and the
quarterfinals in Newport (l. to Rusedski). He is 11-11 this year and ranks
No. 101 in the INDESIT ATP 2004 Race.
In-from Frenchman Gregory Carraz and former No. 2 in the world Spaniard Alex
Corretja will face each other for the first time. Currently ranked No. 89 in
the INDESIT ATP 2004 Race with a 14-18 record, the 29-year-old Frenchman will
look surpass his highest number of wins in one calendar year (14 in 2003) and
improves his year-end-ranking for the fourth consecutive time since 2000 (No.
63 in 2003).
Corretja’s best performance this season came in Indian Wells (l. to Henman
in 3rd round). He is ranked No. 96 in the INDESIT ATP 2004 Race with a 9-17
record.
Young sensation and French hope Gael Monfils will play countryman Oliver
Patience for the first time in his career. After a successful ATP debut when
No. 2 seed Xavier Malisse retired in the third set, The 18-year-old Frenchman
looks to advance further in the draw, which could make him jump into the top
300 (currently 368).
Monfils has had one of the most accomplished juniors careers in recent years
with an impressive 31-2 record. He is one of only four players to have won
three Slams in a year and the first since Stefan Edberg in 1983. Standing at
6-4, he is guaranteed the year-end No. 1 ranking and the title of ITF Junior
Boys' World Champion in 2004. He has also had success at the future level by
winning Great Britain F1 title and reaching the final at France F4 at the
future level. He recently started working with former ATP player Thierry
Champion.
Patience comes off a hard-fought victory over Philip Kohlschreiber in the
first round and now stands at 12-14 in 2003. currently No. 116 in the INDESIT
ATP 2004 Entry Rankings, Patience looks to improve his year-end-ranking for
the sixth consecutive time since 2000 (No. 165 in 2003).
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