By Erik Gudris | Sunday, July 24, 2016
The wait is over for Gael Monfils.
The French veteran saved a match point en route to winning his biggest career ATP title at the Citi Open in Washington, D.C.
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Monfils entered Sunday’s final having lost in his last two finals earlier this season in Rotterdam and Monte Carlo. The No. 2 seed Monfils was also seeking his first title since 2014.
Standing in Monfils’ way of the title was big serving Ivo Karlovic. The Croatian was also seeking his first ever ATP 500 title and entered the final not having had his serve broken all event.
Both players endured scorching hot temperatures on court as the first set quickly turned into a serving contest. Both men faced little trouble holding service games with Karlovic particularly vexing Monfils. The Frenchman at times shook his head as another Karlovic ace whizzed by him, unable to read where the Croatian’s serve was going.
Karlovic earned the first break late in the set at 6-5 when Monfils served a double fault down break point. Karlovic then closed out the set 7-5 with a smash winner.
The D.C. crowd started chanting “Monfils! Monfils! “ as the second set opened in hopes of spurring an increasingly dejected looking Monfils. Karlovic kept control of the match by keeping points short and finishing things off at net. With Monfils not able to even think about trying his usual crowd pleasing winners, it kept the match all on the Croatian’s racquet.
At 4-all, Karlovic secured a service break after Monfils let a volley sail long. That allowed Karlovic to serve for the match at 5-4.
But Monfils finally had figured how to read Karlovic’s serve. Monfils struck two low returns at the tall Croatian’s feet that he couldn’t handle. Soon, Karlovic found himself serving down 15-40. Karlovic got things back to deuce but then faced another break point. Karlovic hit a volley just long and that leveled the match at 5-all.
It was the first time all tournament that Karlovic had dropped serve.
The set eventually ended up in a tiebreak that proved razor close. Both men kept holding serve either with aces or big unreturnable serves. Karlovic held a match point at 6-5 on Monfils’s serve. But the Frenchman cracked another big serve for 6-all. When Monfils held his second set point at 7-6, he struck another low return that Karlovic couldn’t handle. With that, an energized Monfils, along with the crowd, celebrated taking the match into a decider.
Monfils maintained his momentum into the third set. At 1-all, Monfils continued hitting low returns that bothered Karlovic. That contributed to Monfils getting the key break for 2-1.
A dejected looking Karlovic did his best to stay with Monfils though he knew his chances at winning were dwindling. Monfils kept up his solid serving and soon found himself at 5-4.
With a sliding second serve followed up by a big backhand winner, Monfils now held match points. A final big serve from the Frenchman sealed the comeback 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-4 win.
Washington D.C. is Monfils first ATP 500 title and his sixth career title overall.
Monfils often changed his return position throughout the match. But he admitted the win came down to a few points.
“It wasn’t the plan but I knew that for him to serve and volley for two hours in the heat will be difficult,” Monfils reflected on the win. “It came down to a few points Today to be honest was pure luck. There were a few shots and few opportunties I manage to make it. Today it was special, but it was like a regular win.”
For Karlovic, the disappointment was evident despite having made his second straight ATP final after Newport last week.
“If it was normal match I would win it right there,” Karlovic said when asked about not being able to serve out the match. “I don’t know why but my serve stopped at that moment. It happens I guess. But I’m not used to that. I was going to win but I lose my serve.”
Monfils was especially happy to win in D.C. considering the event’s long history of noted champions throughout the years - including Arthur Ashe and Yannick Noah.
“When I first came, I saw big names like Arthur Ashe and Yannick Noah and I said I want to have my name next to them. They have been big inspirations for me,” Monfils said. Defintely to have my name up next to them is precious. It means a lot to me and I’m very proud.”