Gael Monfils beats Dan Evans in three sets in Dubai
Thursday 2 March 2017 12:26, UK
A spirited second set comeback against Gael Monfils was not enough for Dan Evans in round two of the Dubai Championships as the Brit was beaten 6-4 3-6 6-1.
Evans, the breakout star of January's Australian Open, looked in danger of an unremarkable defeat in Dubai, before summoning an inspired second set display to force a deciding set against the world No 12.
The Frenchman was first out of the blocks in the pair's first meeting, breaking immediately before serving out an even opening set.
Monfils was as acrobatic as ever, but Evans' movement and dogged on-court determination showed, in a match which showcased both players' wonderful shot making.
The second set saw a switch in momentum, as Evans dramatically reduced his error tally, just as Monfils' intensity dropped.
The fourth seed held serve just once in those nine games, and the Briton looked poised to surge through the decider.
Monfils suddenly rediscovered the agility and power which has seen him reach as high as No 6 in the ATP rankings, and imperiously swept through the final set to earn his place in the quarter-finals, where Spain's Fernando Verdasco awaits.
His opponent also had to go the distance to qualify for the quarter-finals, after an all-Spanish match between Verdasco and sixth seed Roberto Bautista Agut lasted almost two and a half hours.
All three of the pair's previous encounters had also required a deciding set, and the world. No. 35 was forced to wait until up 6-5 in the third to manage the conclusive break, and seal a 6-4 3-6 7-5 victory.
Seventh seed Lucas Pouille made short work of qualifier Marius Copil - 6-1 6-4 - and will face either Roger Federer or Evgeny Donskoy, another qualifier, in the quarter-finals.
At the bottom of the draw, a Robin Haase - Damir Dzumhur quarter-final looms large, after the duo each notched surprise wins.
Little-known youngster Dzumhur saw off Marcel Granollers, a player ranked 41 places above his eventual conqueror, while the Netherlands' Robin Haase created an even bigger upset with a three-set win over Tomas Berdych.
The fifth seed, who looked so out of sorts when swatted aside by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Rotterdam last month, won the first before fading and eventually conceding 6-4 3-6 4-6.
