Gael Monfils overcomes Benjamin Becker to reach the quarter-final draw – Qatar Open 2012
Fouth seeded Gael Monfils barely managed to clinch a win over Germany’s Benjamin Becker in the men’s singles second round match at the 2012 Qatar Open being played in Doha on Wednesday. Monfils won the match 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, to cruise
into the quarterfinals of the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) World Tour 250-level tournament.
World number 16, Monfils, was looking in top form as he pocketed some great points from his serve shots and excellent backhand strokes. Monfils was the superior player for he scored six aces but conceded five double faults because
of his aggressive run into the match. Becker, on the other hand, fired three aces and conceded four double faults.
The first set was a test of nerve for the two players, with both contestants struggling for a commanding position as it turned out to be an evenly matched contest. Both men used their service games to get a lead and the spectators
were given a spectacular show of ground shots and volleys.
Monfils kept a slight upper hand in the first set but Becker was not letting his opponent take any margin. Neither of the two players could score more than 60 percent points from their first serve, reflecting the intensity of aggression
they were showing on the court. The 30-year-old Becker was close in winning the set but Monfils cruised to win it 7-5.
The 25-year-old Monfils surged for a win in the second set but this time again, the two players accelerated with an equal momentum, with Becker gaining an edge. The German was able to break Monfil’s serves twice in the set, breaking
the rolling momentum which the French showed earlier in the set. Monfils was looking for a win in the second set to seal the match but Becker used his presence of mind by capitalizing Monfil’s drawbacks in pocketing some points to remain ahead of the French.
Monfils, who looked in great stride in the first set was unable to keep his winning pace in the second set and lost it 4-6.
Becker entered into the third and final set with a motivation to create an upset by beating Monfils but the French learned from his mistakes from earlier sets and managed to keep a lead against Becker. The German fought valiantly
against the French but showed lack of experience, as Monfils dominated him with some unplayable shots in the final set. Becker came close in beating Monfils by winning five games but Monfils edged past Becker to win the third set 7-5 and with it won the match
7-5, 4-6, 7-5.
This was the second time the two players fought on the court. In their previous meeting, Monfils defeated Becker 7-6(4), 6-4 at the 2010 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Paris. Monfils has now entered into the quarterfinals
of the 2012 Qatar Open, where he will play against Serbia’s Viktor Troicki.
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