Monfils was blown 6-2, 6-2 by young Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 in Paris.
Gael Monfils said goodbye to the Masters of the end of the season, blown 6-2, 6-2 in 59 minutes by the young Canadian Denis Shapovalov (28e in the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 of Paris on Friday 1st November. To pocket the last qualifying round for the London tournament with the eight best players of the season, the equation was simple for Monfils: no longer left him "More than" to hoist yourself in the last square. It is finally the Italian Matteo Berrettini who inherits it.
If what he posted as the number one goal of his season, finish in the top 10, is achieved, the 33-year-old Parisian did not fully enjoy a particularly favorable table in Bercy, cleared by the package last minute of Roger Federer, to invite himself to the Masters for the second time of his career.
He does not make it a mountain, insisting that if his chances grew this week, it was only because of a "Concurrence of circumstances", linked to the early and progressive eliminations of the other contenders. "I managed to make illusion, even to play a place for the Masters with my current state, we must see the positive side", considers Monfils, who had said "Physically and mentally dead" Start of the week.
In the position of second substitute, he will however make the trip to London … but more because his companion, the Ukrainian player Elina Svitolina, like it! His priority now is to rest, before the new Davis Cup formula, from November 18 to 24.
Under the roof of Bercy, the suspense turned short Friday night: the tricolor has never had a chance against the young left-handed Canadian. More lively and much more punchy, Shapovalov quickly widened the gap in the first set thanks to a double break. In full success, particularly with his aesthetic one-handed backhand, he did not loose his prey in the second and quickly escaped 4 games to 0.
On the other side of the net, Monfils was out of gear, overwhelmed by the length of his opponent's strikes, and was struggling to hold the exchange. Which earned him a sad record of seven winning strokes for sixteen unforced errors. "I have an average level that allows me to win some games and that took me to here, but here I just did not have the weapons to counter Denis, who is really fit, confident"he admits bluntly. The day before, Monfils had emerged from the clutches of Moldovan Radu Albot in extremis, after having accused a set and a late break.
Nadal ends the beautiful course of Tsonga
The world number 2 Rafael Nadal has ended the beautiful course of the French Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (35e) in the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 of Paris in two sets 7-6 (7/4), 6-1.
Tsonga, who was playing his fourth game of the week, held on to Nadal's lead in the first set, which, within seconds, lasted as long as the entire match between Monfils and Shapovalov. He only scored one game later.
Diving beyond the 250e world place a year ago, the Frenchman is however sure to make his return in the top 30, at the 29e place precisely, after the Paris tournament.
Known semi-finalists
Shapovalov (20 years old), in the final 1000 Masters for the fourth time in his young career, will face Rafael Nadal. His Parisian career already ensures him to achieve the best ranking of his career next Monday.
The other semifinal will feature world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in Bulgaria's Grigor Dimitrov. Only his still hoarse voice betrays again that Djokovic was ill at the beginning of the week. On the court, no trace: the Serb, who will be dethroned at the top of world tennis by Nadal, whatever they do at Bercy, has made a mouthful of Tsitsipas, devoured in 58 minutes (6-1, 6-2). "I played one of my best games of the year, Djokovic believes. I served well, I read his service very well too, I put him under pressure constantly. I started really well and I did not really give him any opportunities to come back. "
If "Djoko", who holds the record of titles in the Parisian hall, reaches the last square for the sixth time, this is the very first time that Dimitrov, hoisted. Fell at 78e World ranking two months ago, its lowest ranking for more than seven years, before offering itself a semi-final at the US Open, the Bulgarian will be rewarded with a return to the top 20 on Monday.