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  • Indian Wells First Round: Mario Ancic vs. Gael Monfils

    3/13/08 6:48 PM | Ricky Dimon
    - Two players whose vast talents have been thwarted by injuries will meet in the first round of the Pacific Life Open. In terms of name recognition, this battle between Mario Ancic and Gael Monfils deserves to take place later on in the tournament.

    The marquee first-round pairing in the second quarter of the Pacific Life Open features Mario Ancic and Gael Monfils. While on paper it boats the biggest names, the most flair, and arguably more talent than any other opening-round match, injury concerns could prevent it from producing the best tennis.

    Monfils had a solid summer last season, but a knee injury prevented him from playing in the U.S. Open and after a brief return in mid-September, it sidelined him for the rest of 2008. The 21-year-old Frenchman finally made his comeback last week in Dubai, where he promptly lost to Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-2 in just 53 minutes. Still, just being out on the court was a positive development for Monfils.

    “The result was really not that important,” he said. “The idea was to get out there on court and get a feel of a competition match. I am pleased with the way I have played my first match after such a long time.”

    Injury-plagued Ancic has also endured more than his fair share of physical ailments. He, too, missed the 2007 U.S. Open and this season’s Australian Open. But Ancic played two tournaments in February and both were extremely productive. He was runner-up in Marseille (lost to Murray but had wins over Tsonga, Soderling, and Baghdatis) and reached the semifinals of Zagreb (lost to fellow Croat Ivan Ljubicic). Ancic served incredibly well in both events, and if he is bombing serves against Monfils, the Frenchman will have little chance to find his long-lost form.

    Monfils and Ancic have squared off just once before, with Ancic scoring a 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 blowout win at Wimbledon back in 2005. Both players are capable on all surfaces, but grass certainly caters to the 6’5’’ Croat and Monfils was in the early stages of his professional career at that point, so the result wasn’t too surprising. It might not be as easy in Indian Wells, but Ancic has enjoyed far more court time than Monfils recently, so he should be able to pull through in straight sets.

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