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  • Monfils, Tsonga in all-French Bangkok semifinal

    9/27/08 3:04 AM | Ricky Dimon
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    Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will battle for the first time at the ATP level on Saturday at the Thailand Open. A spot in the title match is at stake in this blockbuster showdown.

    It has been five years since Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga squared off in a Futures event in their home country of France. Surprisingly, the two compatriots have not met on a tennis court since then, meaning they have never contested an ATP match. It's not exactly a Grand Slam or even a Masters Series for their first big head-to-head clash, but nonetheless it is big. A spot in the Thailand Open is on the line.

    For Tsonga a berth in the title match would be especially important. The No. 20 player in the world seemed poised for a top-notch 2008 campaign when he reached the final of the Australian Open, but that did not turn out to be the case. Always plagued by injuries, a knee problem bit Tsonga in May and he missed three months until the U.S. Open, where he lost to Tommy Rodredo in the third round. This week, however, the No. 2 seed is starting to turn it all back around. Tsonga pulled of a grueling win over Lukas Dlouhy in his first match, winning both the first and third sets in tiebreakers, and in the quarterfinals he put on a stunning display of tennis en route to crushing Jurgen Melzer in straight sets.

    Monfils, on the other hand, has been in outstanding form for a lot longer than just the past few days. The 22-year-old has always been wildly inconsistent as a professional, but he is enjoying one of his hot streaks at the moment. Monfils reached the semifinals of the French Open, the semifinals in Nottingham, the quarterfinals of the Olympics, and the fourth round of the U.S. Open. Seeded fourth this week and ranked 10 spots behind Tsonga at No. 30, Monfils took out Robert Kendrick in straight sets in round two and then ousted surprising quarterfinalist Philipp Petzschner.

    With two of the most entertaining players on tour in this showdown, it is sure to be a tennis fanatic's delight. The stark contrast in styles between the two men will add even more intrigue to the proceedings. Tsonga will try to dictate play with huge serves and powerful groundstrokes. The fast indoor courts should help that plan against Monfils, who likes to have time to track down all kinds of shots, something he does better than almost everyone in the game. Nonetheless, Monfils has played a lot more big matches recently and it remains to be seen how Tsonga will handle the big moments at the end of a rather tough week. Look for Monfils to survive a thrilling three-setter.

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