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Jannik Sinner would love to see Gael Monfils competing as long as possible, and it has nothing to do with their H2H record! The Italian praised the Frenchman following their ATP 500 Rotterdam second-round clash, applauding his unique character and the mastery of a showman.
Jannik ousted Gael 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in an hour and 52 minutes, with a single break in each set. Thus, the Italian beat the Frenchman for the fifth time in six encounters, notching his 12th straight win and moving into the quarter-final.
Sinner faced one break point, allowing Monfils to convert it and take the second set. However, the veteran lost serve two times from five chances offered to his rival, fighting hard but ruining his chances with 36 unforced errors.
Gael lost serve in the second game of the encounter after a forehand error. World no. 4 cemented the lead with a hold in game three, building a handful advantage after eight minutes.
Gael produced two fine holds after an early setback, firing a forehand winner in the sixth game and reducing the deficit to 4-2. The Italian held at love in game seven and served for the set at 5-3. Jannik closed the ninth game at 15, securing the opener in 32 minutes.
Gael made a better start in the second set, delivering two fine holds and forging the advantage with a break in game four after Jannik's double fault. A two-time champion served well in games five and seven, moving 5-2 in front and serving for the set in game nine.
Jannik Sinner praised Gael Monfils following their Rotterdam duel.
Monfils faced a break point, saving it with a powerful serve and closing the set after drawing Sinner's mistake, forcing a decider after 70 minutes. The favorite started all over in the final set, breaking his rival at love in the second game after Gael's wayward backhand.
Jannik missed another break chance in the fourth game before holding at 15 in the next one, moving 4-1 up and closer to the finish line. Sinner fired a service winner in the seventh game and served for the win at 5-3. The Australian Open champion landed an unreturned serve, holding at 15 and moving into the last eight.
"Gael is an incredible showman. The crowd loves him wherever he plays, and the sport needs characters like him. It will be very tough for all of us when Gael announces his retirement, and I hope he keeps going as long as possible.
I hope to share the court with him as many times as possible because he is such a fantastic player. When I made my first steps on the Tour, Gael was nice from the beginning; it's something to admire," Jannik Sinner said.