Video: Wins for Monfils, Basic and Gulbis in Germany
Wins for a rejuvenated Gael Monfils and a shock defeat for seventh-seeded Jerzy Janowicz in the first round of the Gerry Weber Open in Germany on Tuesday (June 11th) – Gael Monfils secured a 6-4, 6-2 win over Milos Raonic, and Janowicz suffered a 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-6 (7-5) defeat to Mirza Basic.
Displaying new dreadlocks and old shot-making, Gael Monfils beat fifth-seeded Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the Gerry Weber Open on Tuesday to boost his comeback from injury.
Monfils broke serve at 2-1 in the first set and never looked back.
Raonic put some pressure on Monfils in the final game, but Monfils hit a drop shot followed with a lob, and served out the match with an ace. The two points at the end perfectly illustrated Monfils’ ability to produce a soft touch and a booming serve.
In the upset of the day, Mirza Basic, a lucky loser from qualifying playing his first main-draw match on the ATP Tour, stunned seventh-seeded Jerzy Janowicz 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-6 (7-5).
The 21-year-old Bosnian gave himself a match point with a drop volley and won the match when Janowicz reached another drop shot but sent it back long.
A withdrawal by Philipp Petzschner through a shoulder injury was the only reason basic was playing in the tournament.
In other first-round matches, sixth-seeded Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany cruised past Carlos Berlocq of Argentina 6-3, 6-1, and Ernests Gulbis of Latvia beat Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus 6-4, 3-6, 6-3.