By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, February 16, 2020
Gael Monfils stopped Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 6-4 successfully defending his Rotterdam title and capturing his second straight ATP title.
Photo credit: ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament
Beneath the Rotterdam roof, Gael Monfils' pyrotechnic play has no ceiling.
A streaking Monfils unleashed a seven-game surge igniting a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Felix Auger-Aliassime to successfully defend his Rotterdam title—and claim his second straight ATP championship.
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The 33-year-old Frenchman extended his Rotterdam winning streak to 10 matches joining Nicolas Escude as the second Frenchman to win the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament title twice.
Empowered by his run to the Montpellier crown last Sunday, Monfils made precious personal history making 2020 the first time in his illustrious career he's won more than one title in a season.
The acrobatic Frenchman extended his 2020 winning streak to nine matches capturing his 10th career title.
"I would like to thank the crowd," Monfils said. "Last year was amazing. This one is even better. So guys thank you so much I love playing here so thank you so much.
"I would like to thank my team. Two weeks [winning titles is] unbelievable for us. We've been working hard. Finally, we can see a little bit, but we have bigger goals. So I hope this is the beginning of something for this season."
Contesting his first career hard-court final, the 19-year-old Auger-Aliassime showed signs of nerves as the youngest finalist in tournament history. Auger-Aliassime's forehand was all over the map for the first set and a half, but the Canadian teenager dug in denying four championship points making a mini stand before Monfils served out the title on his second attempt.
The third-seeded Frenchman showed class embracing his sometime practice partner at net and praising Auger-Aliassime as a future champion afterward.
"First of all, I would say congrats to Felix for a great week,”Monfils said. “You’re young, you improve fast and I'm sure you're gonna win it, for sure this tournament [and] other tournaments. Keep going like this. Well done to your team because it was a real pleasure to be on the court with you today."
The Miami Open semifinalist fell to 0-4 in ATP finals.
"Congrats to Gael he’s a great player, but a great person and a great friend so I’m happy for him," Auger-Aliassime said. "Congrats to your team for all the great work. It’s tough for me: four finals and four finalists, but I had an amazing week here."
Monfils’ lightning-quick court coverage, unerring baseline play and his skill breaking down the Canadian’s forehand were the keys to his
Auger-Aliassime brain-cramped trying to drop shot Monfils, who remains one of the fastest men in tennis. The Frenchman raced up to the ball, pushed a reply down the line then intercepted the Canadian’s stretched reply knocking off a backhand to break for a 3-2 first-set lead.
Monfils broke again for 5-2 then served out the 40-minute opening set.
The pressure of trying to claim his first ATP title constricted the Canadian’s right arm. Auger-Aliassime could not control his forehand at crunch time as he sprayed a forehand wide—his 17th forehand error—to gift a third straight break to start the second set.
A streaking Monfils ran off 10 consecutive points to open the second set eventually holding for his seventh straight game and a 2-0 lead.
The teenager’s inability to reign in his forehand and play to bigger targets proved costly today as he committed 20 forehand errors compared to a clean display from his two-handed backhand.
An off-balance Auger-Aliassime sailed a forehand down the line wide as Monfils scored his fourth break for 4-1.
Serving for the title at 5-2, Monfils was up 40-15, but could not close.
A crackling 22-shot rally ended with Auger-Aliassime whipping a forehand winner down the line to save a second championship point.
The Canadian redirected a forehand return down the line erasing a fourth championship point and seemingly rattling the defending champion. Monfils tried to shorten the point with a forehand drop shot, but Auger-Aliassime read it, reached it and broke back in the eighth game.
A suddenly resurgent Auger-Aliassime rocketed his forehand—growing in range and reliability—down the line closing to 4-5.
Serving for the title for a second time, Monfils slid a serve winner out wide converting his fifth championship point to close.
A pumped-up Monfils rolled his arms for a few seconds winding up to delivering a rousing roundhouse right hand toward his box looking thoroughly excited extending one of the best runs of his career.