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10/10/08 7:34 PM | Ricky Dimon
Gael Monfils downs Fernando Gonzalez on Friday afternoon at the Bank Austria Tennis Trophy. He will play Philipp Kohlschreiber in the semifinals.
Gael Monfils defeated Fernando Gonzalez 6-3, 7-6(2) on Friday in the Vienna quarterfinals. It wasn't easy, however, as Monfils needed one hour and 41 minutes to take care of an opponent who has simply refused to give up this week.
But this time it was Monfils who spent most of the day unwilling to wilt in the face of adversity. He saved the first seven break points he faced during the match, including two early in the first set to stay on serve. The Frenchman eventually secured a break of his own--by playing surprisingly aggressive in the return game even against Gonzalez's first serves--and served out the set for 6-3.
Gonzalez had a ton of chances throughout the second frame of play, but Monfils saved five break points as the set progressed to 5-5. At that point Monfils caught fire with his forehand and broke serve when Gonzalez, after being run all over the court, put a forehand in the net. The Chilean responded by firing his racket to the ground three times, yet somehow it did not break. Gonzalez also responded, somewhat shockingly, by breaking Monfils for the first time to send the second into a tiebreaker. Suddenly it seemed like this one could go exactly how the No. 2 seed's first two matches went. Gonzalez beat both Simone Bolelli and Ernests Gulbis in three sets, needing to force a third each time by winning the second in a 'breaker. He even saved five match points against Gulbis.
Monfils, however, has for more experience in big moments and a much stronger mental game than Bolelli and Gulbis. It showed in the tiebreaker as the Frenchman surged to an insurmountable 6-0 lead. Although the Gonzalez forehand really broke down, Monfils came up with some incredible tennis. After one backhand passing shot sailed by him, Gonzalez finished off his racket with a vociferous hurl to the ground. Not long afterwards, Monfils finished off the match and booked his place in the semifinals.
The No. 8 seed will meet Philipp Kohlschreiber on Saturday. It will be the first career encounter between the two men.
Monfils is being really aggressive this week, while remaining his always-consistent self.
Gonzalez fell apart in the tiebreaker, the same stage where he had excelled in his previous two contests.
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Gael Monfils
Fernando Gonzalez
BA-CA Tennis Trophy
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