Alcaraz fulfills Monfils' plan

Fernando Murciego | 9 Oct 2024 | 10.03

Carlos Alcaraz defeats Monfils and is already in the quarterfinals of Shanghai. Source: Getty

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No matter what Gael Monfils may say, a guy who always looks cheerful with a wry smile, the truth is that one can never trust these things. The Frenchman dared to say the day before facing Carlos Alcaraz that he would have no chance of winning, burying completely what happened the last time they met in Cincinnati, where he took advantage of one of the Spaniard's grayest versions. Well, unfortunately for his interests, today we know that he was spot on with his prediction. A hard-fought victory for the Murcian player (6-4, 7-5) that puts him among the top eight at the Masters 1000 in Shanghai and places him with a current streak of 12-0.

It wasn't a spectacular match, perhaps this is what hurts us the most, as whenever two artists come together on the court, one wants to think that ahead lies something more than just a simple tennis match. However, this Monfils seemed much more subdued than usual, although perhaps the big difference was on the other side of the net, with an ultra-focused Alcaraz, eager for revenge and with much respect for knowing how the Parisian can play if given a little room. The first set had few ups and downs, a few break points that put fear into the hearts of the players, although the definitive break wouldn't come until the ninth game. That's where Carlitos made the leap in quality and then confirmed it with his serve. The 6-4 was a promising start for the World No. 2.

But if something we learned in that first set, it was that Monfils is a cunning one. He wasn't so down and out, he didn't have so few chances of winning, nor did he think the match was lost before it started, of course. There he showed himself firm, competitive, quick to reach every ball, and very attentive to the crucial moments, even if they didn't go his way. What happened in the press conference was pure strategy, although these things don't always work out. The duel progressed, the highlights appeared, and the crowd was enjoying it until, at 5-5, it was time to grit their teeth and start thinking a little further ahead.

EXTRA EFFORT TO CLOSE THE MATCH

As said, with that 5-5, nerves came from both sides, so Juan Carlos Ferrero wanted to make sure and give his boy a couple of instructions to unleash his forehand and support himself with all the confidence he's carrying from these weeks. It took a bit to untangle that game with several deuces, but we finally saw the Spaniard take a bite and then seal the victory without any suffering with his serve. Perhaps a victory more hard-fought than it seems or what the numbers say, but the essential thing is that Carlitos is back in that champion mode where momentum propels him towards success. Tommy Paul or Tomas Machac will have to do very well in the quarterfinals if they want to stop him.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Alcaraz cumple el plan de Monfils