Gilles Simon upsets Gael Monfils in quarterfinals – German Tennis Championships 2011
The twister of the German Tennis Championship 2011 was the match between the two Frenchmen Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils. No one believed that the world No.18 could beat the world No.7 the second time. The wonderful Rothenbaum Tennis court in Hamburg was unlike any story with its hero till the end to win the hearts as another big shot was kicked out of the tour.
The two Frenchmen have been head to head two times and surprisingly Simon has beaten the current World No.7 on both occasions. If a World Number 18 can beat a World No.7 so easily, why isn’t he on No.7 position?
Monfils has been on this position for the current season but the chances are that he might just lose it very soon. The 24-year-old superstar hasn’t been performing well lately. The No.1 seed for the event surely has his advantage of his height but at times he is slow. He has been clumsy in his shot selection and has been playing the wrong player the wrong way.
However, the beating Simon gave to Gael is what he is best at. The former World No.6 has had 8 career titles and great track record. The 26-year-old is much experience as well. The only reason Simon is able to beat Monfils is that he is much more agile than his fellow countryman. He speeds up quick enough to give himself space to play shots anywhere in the court. And this became the reason for the severe humiliation he delivered to the 24-year-old Monfils.
The Monfils beating started from the first set. The World No.7 served first and took away the starting game of the match. Serving for the second set Simon won to level the scores to 1-1. However, this was just a beginning. Breaking his opponents serve, and bones, Simon increased his lead to 2-1 following by the next game to make it 3-1, but wait it was not over yet.
The 26-year-old won 4 games back-to-back to take his score to 4-1. Monfils retaliated like fish out of water, and broke Simon’s serve to make it 4-2. Further on he won on his serve turning the scores to 4-3. Agonised by the 2 wins of his opponent, Simon, from nowhere, started thrashing his countryman and took away the set 6-4 to lead the match 1-0.
The second set was rather a comfort for the world No.7. Monfils started of strong, not giving a single chance Simon. Winning on the opening serve for the set, Monfils broke Simon in the second game to lead 2-0. Desperate for a win, the 24-year-old put his height to some use and played the set brilliantly. Monfils continued his lead in the set to win the set 6-3 and level the score to 1-1.
However, for the decider set “the worst is yet to come” was not the right expression rather it seemed that this had been certainly the most humiliating defeat to any player at the top spot.
Gael Monfils got a 6-0 beating from Gilles Simon. Gilles won the match 6-4, 3-6, 6-0.
The world No.18 now sits in the semis seat to play against the Russian Mikhail Youzhny for a spot in the final.
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