F. Cobolli b. [8] G. Monfils 6-7(8) 6-3 6-0
Excellent debut for Flavio Cobolli atOpen South of France, ATP 250 tournament held on the fast indoor track in Montpellier. The opponent was a specialist of this surface and winner of this tournament three times: the ex nr.6 al mondo Gael Monfils. The match was one real battle for the first set and a halfwith a challenge between devastating forehands and aggression in return on the second serve by both.
From the second part of the second set onwards, however, the Frenchman’s decline seemed evidentalso thanks to a left wrist problem; Cobolli instead he managed to slightly improve his percentages of firsts on the field and continue in his stoic defensesattacking the opponent’s serve as soon as possible.
The neo nr. 76 in the world now they will face another home favorite in the round of 16: Constant Lestienne, number 106 in the worldwho beat the Spaniard Zapata Miralles in three sets.
First set: aggression in response is not enough for Cobolli, Monfils prevails in the tie-break (Matteo Beltrami)
Strong part Monfils who snatches the joke from Cobolli thanks to a round with few firsts from the Italian. The Frenchman moves well on this surface and for the moment he is helped by the service. In the fifth game Cobolli recovers the lost break thanks also to some deep forehands. In the sixth game the match was interrupted for a good quarter of an hour due to a spectator falling ill. Upon resumption of operations, Cobolli earn more break points and scores the fourth consecutive game from 0-3. In the next game the Roman makes and undoes, recovering from 40 to 0 and with a bloody double fault he grants the counter-break. After a few interlocutory games the first set is decided at tie-break: the first mini break belongs to the blue player who takes advantage of two free backhands Monfils, who recovers very well by working on Cobolli’s hips. The eighth seed earns two set points, but Cobolli does not give up and cancels them. Balance reigns supreme until Flavio hits a forehand (one of the few serious errors of his match) and allows Monfils to win the tie-break 10-8. A nice first set of 1h 26′ in which the two containing showed aggression in response, some commendable defenses from Cobolli, incisive attacks from Monfils and few first serves for both.
Second set: Monfils lasts half the set, Cobolli improves on serve
A decidedly less contested set than the firstin which Monfils lowers the engine speed: less incisive with the first and much more foul with the backhand. Cobolli, on the other hand, continues to hammer with his forehand (to appreciate some excellent narrow crosses), raises the percentage of firsts (60% against 50% in the first set) and he is very good at take advantage of two break points (in the fourth and sixth games) out of three granted in total (and to cancel 3 out of 4). At the end of the set, the Frenchman asks for help from the physiotherapist for a problem with his left wrist. In 39′ of play the Italian did well to close 6 games at 3.
Third set: bagel of Cobolli who doesn’t let the painful Frenchman take pity on him
There is no story in this third set: Cobolli remains at the level of second, while Monfils appears evidently in pain and is unable to handle the exchange at all, committing a myriad of gratuitous acts. The 6-0 with which the Italian ended the match leaves no room for interpretation: the most continuous and physically intact player prevailed. Per Monfils he withdrawal time appears closer and closer, though Flavio pays homage to him in the final interview, calling him a legend of this sport.
On this season’s goal the Roman tennis player first stutters a surprising: “I want to finish in the top 10”but then corrects it with a humble one “top 100”. The Cobolli seen todaydespite the adversary’s difficulties, can certainly aim higher.
Diego Tripodi