By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, January 4, 2018
Gael Monfils saved a set point stopping Peter Gojowczyk, 6-3, 7-6 (6), to set up a Doha semifinal vs. Dominic Thiem.
Photo credit: Qatar Tennis Federation
Staring down set point, a sliding Gael Monfils improvised a bit of brilliance to key an escape act.
Monfils carved a looping lob winner to save set point in the tie break sparking a 6-3, 7-6 (6) victory over Peter Gojowczyk that sent him into his fifth Doha semifinal in eight appearances at the Qatar Exxon Mobil Open.
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“It was a key moment,” Monfils said of his clever lob. “But as I say, I keep cool on the lob. It was the right play and I’m very happy about that.”
Playing his first tournament since the US Open, the 31-year-old Frenchman will play for his first final since bowing to Novak Djokovic in the Eastbourne final last July.
The 46th-ranked Frenchman will face two-time French Open semifinalist Dominic Thiem in tomorrow’s semifinals.
The top-seeded Thiem stopped the inspired run of 19-year-old Greek qualifier Stefanos Tsitsipas, 7-5, 6-4.
The one hour, 39-minute victory sent Thiem into his first hard-court semifinal since Metz in September of 2016.
“Four years ago, I was 21 [in Doha debut] and Stefanos now is even younger he’s already so good at a young age,” Thiem said. “It was a very good match—exactly this type of match we all need for the Slam and for a good start in the new season.
“He qualified here. He beat Florian Mayer first round and Richard Gaquet in two sets so if you beat those guys in two sets you have to play really, really well so I was aware from the first moment.”
The explosive Austrian cracked 33 winners—seven more than his opponent—and saved six of seven break points posting his third straight-sets win of the week.
Thiem has beaten Monfils in all three of their prior meetings, including a 6-3, 6-2 victory in their most recent clash in Indian Wells last March.
“Dominic is many years in the Top 10, he’s striking the ball very hard,” Monfils said. “Every time we have close matches except the last one. I’ll try to play a great game.”
The French wild card flicked a fine forehand stretch volley in the fourth game. A sliding backhand lob extended the point and Monfils broke for 3-1 when Gojowczyk sent a backhand long.
Monfils saved a break point and then cranked an inside-out forehand holding for 5-2. Monfils successfully challenged a forehand off the sideline that was incorrectly called out then slash an ace down the middle building a one-set lead after 28 minutes.
The acrobatic Frenchman broke to open the second set before Gojowczyk broke back for 2-2.
A creative, angled drop shot helped Gojowczyk break again for 4-2.
Fortunate favored Monfils, whose return plopped on top of the tape than plopped over. Gojowczyk was handcuffed as Monfils broke back for 3-4.
Down 4-5 in the tie break, Monfils mashed a leaping forehand. On set point, he scraped out that subtle lob then earned match point when the German netted a volley. Monfils closed on a forehand error. He finished with 33 winners, including eight aces.
"I knew coming here it’s a place I feel very good my game suits the court and I love the crowd here," Monfils told fans afterward. "You guys give me so much energy, thank you. I’m just happy to be in the semifinals."
World No. 39 Andrey Rublev repelled Borna Coric, 6-3, 7-5—his second win over the Croatian in as many meetings.
The 20-year-old Rublev converted three of four break points setting up a semifinal vs. Guido Pella.
The 64th-ranked Pella pumped seven aces and did not drop serve dispatching qualifier Mirza Basic, 6-2, 6-3, in 65 minutes.