Monfils Edges Isner In Another Rivlary Classic

Once again, a John Isner and Gael Monfils match lived up to its billing. The Frenchman saved match point to prevail over his towering American rival 6-7(5), 7-6(3), 7-5 in front of a packed Stadium 2 crowd at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday afternoon. 

The two have a noted history of high-quality matches – only two of their previous nine matches had been decided in straight sets, both of which were won by Monfils. In what was the 10^th meeting in their FedEx ATP Head2Head rivalry, Monfils was able to raise his level in the biggest moments, producing highlight-reel shots and saving all seven break points he faced, including a match point at 4-5 in the third set, in the two-hour, 35-minute blockbuster. 

In an interesting quirk of the rivalry, the player winning the opening set in a tie-break has never gone on to win the match – and that pattern held true on a sweltering Sunday afternoon at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Palm Springs, California.

The match’s proceedings were unsurprisingly dominated by the serve. Isner, who struck 15 aces, faced only one break point in the first two sets, which came in just the third game of the match. Monfils was able to fend off all three break points faced in the first set, but was unable make inroads in the first-set tie-break against his big-serving opponent. Playing with slightly more intensity and serving better in the pressure moments, Isner was able to claim the first set in just under an hour. 

 Watch Full Match Replays

The second set followed a similar script. With zero break points on offer for either player, the set – and potentially the match – came down to another tie-break. Isner, who had won just two of eight tie-breaks contested in 2018 coming into the match with Monfils, went down a mini-break early. The Frenchman extended his lead with a miracle passing shot to move ahead 5/2 with a second mini-break. The American would later hit a final forehand into the net, sending the battle into a decider. 

Isner appeared to have the match in his sights at 4-3 in the third set, when he was able to push the Monfils serve to a 0/40 deficit. However, the 31-year-old was able to find his most resilient tennis, defending from all corners of the court to erase each of the three break points. Isner’s chance would come again in Monfils’ next service game, this time generating a match point on the Frenchman’s serve. Once again, the American was unsuccessful, and it proved to be his undoing – Monfils raised his level to break Isner immediately after with more unbelievable shotmaking, earning a standing ovation and the only break of the match. 

“I felt that [the third set] was a little bit tight, that’s why I fired up straight away,” said Monfils. “When I saved those last two break points I fired up the crowd because I think when you can see your opponent is tight, it’s good.

 “But then [in] the end I was very lucky, I had good aspiration I think at that game because honestly I hit a ridiculous return and passing shot, and then I just held.”

The win marks Monfils’ 12^th victory of the season, having previously claimed the title in Doha to start the year and reaching the quarter-finals or better at three of his next four tournaments. Monfils owns seven ATP World Tour titles but has yet to claim a trophy at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events, reaching finals twice in Paris and once in Monte Carlo.

Up next for Monfils is compatriot Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who claimed an upset victory over No. 24 seed Gilles Muller earlier in the day. Herbert, who owns 12 doubles titles at the tour level including two Grand Slam trophies, made full use of his doubles skills to serve-and-volley his way past Muller, who was last year’s champion in both Sydney and ‘s-Hertogenbosch.

Last season, Herbert reached a career-high of No. 63 in the ATP Rankings, and will look to edge closer to that benchmark when he faces Monfils in what will be the first match in their FedEx ATP Head2Head.

Philipp Kohlschreiber extended his FedEx ATP Head2Head with Tim Smyczek to a perfect 4-0, as he recovered from a set down to move past the American 1-6, 6-4, 6-4. The win marks just his third of the season as the German looks to round back into the form that has won him eight ATP World Tour titles in his 17-year career.

“For sure it was not the best start. I think [Smyczek] played a really good first set. It was a good fight from both of us,” said Kohlschreiber after the match. “Maybe I’m not playing my best tennis right now, so it’s a double struggle a little bit with the conditions and with myself, but I kept the right moments for me, winning the big points. I’m happy that I really brought the match through.”

Up next for Kohlschreiber is either No. 2 seed Marin Cilic or Marton Fucsovics.