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11/4/11 4:43 PM | Ricky Dimon
2010 Valencia runner-up Marcel Granollers is back in the semifinals after upsetting Gael Monfils on Friday. Granollers awaits either Juan Martin Del Poto or Sam Querrey.
Marcel Granollers is making another dream run at the Valencia Open 500.
Granollers, who reached last year's final and is 14-3 lifetime (including qualifying) at this event, took out Gael Monfils 7-6(12), 3-6, 6-4 in quarterfinal action on Friday afternoon. The Spaniard treated his home fans to a hard-fought victory after two hours and 26 minutes of play.
This one was back-and-forth right from the start. Granollers raced to a 4-1 lead in the first set only to see Monfils storm back and serve for it at 5-4. The world No. 34 broke back and eventually forced what prove to be a thrilling tiebreaker. Both players held multiple set points (none on their own serves) until Granollers finally struck for a decisive mini-break at 13-12.
Monfils could have had one foot on the plane to Paris after the opening-set disappointment, but instead he fought back in the second. The third-seeded Frenchman broke early and never came close to giving it back. He won 17 of 19 first-serve points and did not face a single break point en route to serving out the set at 5-3.
Despite going down an immediate break in set three, Monfils continued to fight. The world No. 10 recovered from 3-0 down and broke when his opponent served for the match at 5-3. One last momentum swing, however, went the other way. Granollers stormed back from 0-30 at 4-5 and won four consecutive points to clinch the win.
Monfils finished with 10 aces but double-faulted eight times, while Granollers recorded four aces and one double. Next up for Granollers is either Juan Martin Del Potro or Sam Querrey.
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Yes, I have! Watched the Cilic match and was most impressed. I've been aware of him from time to time but never really focussed on him. Will watch him much more closely from now on. It was a fascinating match between two vastly contrasting players and produced some fine tennis.
Kept thinking if only Monfils stopped playing to the gallery and concentrated more he could have won many more titles. He seems determined to outdo Henri Laconte for clowning around. It's can be amusing when you are a in the crowd but gets tiresome via the TV!
ed251137 , 11/4/11 7:37 PM
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Anyone else noticed how well Granollers is playing? Lovely, lovely touch at the net, a pleasure to watch. All those doubles matches have paid off.
Ricked his bad ankle in the third set too, but still came through.
Gr8 :)
deuce , 11/4/11 5:13 PM