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Former world No. 6 Gael Monfils was thrilled with his Australian Open first round performance against Federico Coria. Monfils, now ranked at No. 20 in the world, cruised past Coria 6-1 6-1 6-3 to safely progress into the Australian Open second round.
The two players were tied at one game apiece after the opening two games but then Monfils claimed back-to-back breaks to win five games in a row and seal the opener. Monfils lost the first game of the second set but responded with three consecutive breaks to take a comfortable two-set lead.
Monfils then saved three break points in the third game of the third set, before claiming the lone break of the set in the sixth game. “I feel great. [It was a] great match,” Monfils said in his post-match press conference, per the ATP website.
“I think I played very solid tennis. You can't complain when you start a slam like that. You're happy”.
Monfils plays Alexander Bublik next
Next up for Monfils will be Bublik, who beat Ernesto Escobedo in the first round.
Monfils was joined in the winners' circle by Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Alejandro Tabilo 6-2 6-2 6-3. ”I felt really good,” Alcaraz said. “I didn’t expect that this first match was going to be really good for me.
I played a great level the first match of the season. Really good feelings… hope the next matches are going to be the same”. Alcaraz captured his maiden ATP title on the clay courts of Umag last year. ”I’m starting to get more comfortable on hard court than on clay courts,” he shared.
“I think the most tournaments of the year are on hard court, so you have to be ready”. Alcaraz is aiming to reach the top-15 and make the ATP Finals this year. “It’s a really good goal for me, but so difficult as well,” Alcaraz said.