Gael Monfils recovered from a slow start to begin his 12th campaign at Roland Garros, defeating countryman Elliot Benchetrit 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-1.
The 2008 semi-finalist (l. to Federer) looked to be in trouble, losing the opening four games of the match before dropping the first set, but raced back in emphatic fashion to book his place in the second round. Monfils broke serve on nine occasions and won 87 per cent of net points (7/8) en route to victory.
Monfils had lost three of his four matches on European clay this season, heading into the first-round encounter, but showed signs of his best tennis in front of a packed crowd on Suzanne Lenglen Court to book his place in the next round.
The No. 32 seed will meet Slovakia’s Martin Klizan or Laslo Djere of Serbia for a spot in the Round of 32. Monfils is tied at 1-1 in his FedEx ATP Head2Head series with Klizan and is yet to face Djere in a tour-level match.
Did You Know?
Gael Monfils owns a 32-11 record at Roland Garros. The Frenchman’s best result came in 2008, when he lost to Roger Federer in the semi-finals. Since then, Monfils has reached the quarter-finals on three occasions, losing to Federer in 2009 and 2011 and Andy Murray in 2014.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2krXTWj
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