Australian Open 2015: Gael Monfils came back from two sets down to beat Lucas Pouille
Wednesday 21 January 2015 13:23, UK
Gael Monfils came back from a two-set deficit to defeat Lucas Pouille in a thrilling Australian Open first round clash.
The maverick Frenchman showed the benefits and drawbacks of his uniquely calm persona as he ground out a 6-7 3-6 6-4 6-1 6-4 win over his compatriot in the final match of Tuesday morning.
Slow out of the traps, a few outlandishly lavish strokes could not prevent Pouille threatening an upset by winning the first two sets before Monfils upped the ante as the match wore on and beat his opponent to the finish.
Comeback
Monfils provided one of the moments of the day despite dropping the opening set. With three quick-fire shots mid-rally he barely broke a sweat as Pouille burst around the court – Monfils returned the ball continually until he won the point with a provocatively laid-back style.
Every game in the first set went with serve – Monfils didn’t have an unforced error until the 13th game – but Pouille won the tie-break to take the lead.
Pouille strolled into a big lead in the second, and although Monfils delayed his set victory by reeling off three straight games, the youngster was able to move within a set of one of the biggest wins of his career.
Monfils turned on the style again in the third replying to a hotdog shot - returned with a smash - with a nonchalant pass to claim an eye-catching point, and he broke at the last moment for a 6-4 set win.
He raced clear in the fourth, winning 6-1, the highlights including an inch-perfect lob as he asserted his authority.
Pouille responded by taking the first three games of the deciding set but Monfils still wasn’t finished, bouncing back to level by winning the subsequent three.
A series of Pouille errors at a critical time then saw the match drift away from the underdog. Two successive straightforward volleys were missed and his frustration was visible before he misjudged a Monfils shot and gave away a break - the world No 17 safely serving out in the next game to secure a thrilling victory.
