Novak Djokovic defeats Gael Monfils 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 (3) in 2 hours 43 minutes

By Parsa Samii (GEM Tennis)

Early on in today’s match at the Masters Series Paris, it was Novak Djokovic of Serbia taking advantage of the Frenchman Gael Monfils’ nerves and shaky forehand to take a commanding 6-2, 3-0 lead early in the match. However, with the help of Monfils’ hometown Parisian crowd, he eventually found life in the match.  Slowly, but surely Monfils grasped the momentum and roared back to take the second set 7-5 with deft shotmaking and exhilarating emotion.

The Third Set

At 1-0 30-40, Djokovic breaks Monfils with a 43 shot rally that left both players breathing heavy for the rest of the match, all the while continuing to play at a tremendously high level. As the drama built, Monfils scored a break point chance in the very next game at 0-2. Another exchange of body blows ensued, eventually leading to a Djokovic error off the forehand side making the momentum shift back to the Frenchman. As emotion turned again, Monfils double faulted to give the break right back to Djokovic at exactly the 2 hour mark of the match and in almost boring fashion, the third ranked serb held serve easily to take a commanding 4-1 lead in the third. The crowd wanted more and the Frenchman responded in the next game with 3 aces and a service winner moving the pressure back on to the Serb’s shoulders while serving at 4-2 in the final set.  The crowd relentlessly cheered for another Monfils comeback similar to the second set in which he was down an early break as well. The first point of the Djokovic service game was another brutal 24 shot rally in which Monfils won. The point left both players exhausted and it was Djokovic feeling it the most.  At 0-15, the Serb missed a seemingly simple forehand which showed that his attention was focused on his nerves and fatigue as he’d gone away from exposing the Monfils forehand, as he had done so successfully earlier in the match. At this point he simply wasn’t playing the big hitting tennis that got him to the final. Djokovic managed to tie the game score at 30 all, but at 30-40 break point, Djokovic continued to show negative body language while being up in the match!  What happened next?

A double fault by Djokovic set the match back on serve, 4-3. Monfils held easily to move to 4-4 in the final set. As the tension continued to build, Monfils waved his arms to the raucous pro-Monfils crowd, but this time to no avail as Djokovic managed to continue to fend off  himself, Monfils and the crowd by holding easily and taking a 5-4 lead. Monfils followed the next game with an uneventful hold to push the match to 5 all in the set. Djokovic continued the march towards the final set tiebreak with an easy hold to put the pressure back on the Frenchman’s shoulders to serve to take the match into the tiebreak. Monfils passed the pressure with ease, holding at love. Once again, the crowd roared for Monfils and Djokovic’s efforts as the champion was to be determined by a final set tiebreak.

Djokovic served first and took the first point with a nice touch backhand volley: 1-0 Djokovic

Monfils served an ace and a service winner:  2-1 Monfils

Djokovic followed with a forehand winner to even the tiebreak at 2 and then both competitors played an engaging rally ending with a Djokovic volley winner: 3-2 Djokovic

Djokovic drew first blood, aided by a Monfils error: 4-2 Djokovic

Monfils coolly followed with another service winner: 4-3 Djokovic

With Djokovic serving, they contested another brutal 34 stroke rally in which Djokovic prevailed: 5-3 Djokovic

Another amazing point ended with the Serb putting an easy overhead away to give him three championship points: 6-3 Djokovic

As it goes the dramatic match ended with an anticlimactic Monfils double fault: Djokovic won 7-3

Djokovic has now survived another emotional, nervy match. In the past he used to succumb to the pressure of these moments, but this is a different Novak Djokovic. He’s tougher, more confident and full of experience. Look for Djokovic to continue his rise to the top of the rankings at the season ending championships in London on November 22.