UTS newcomer “Rublo” Rublev dispatches “La Monf” Monfils to make Final Four in Frankfurt
Rublo has qualified for the Final Four at UTS in his first attempt, ending La Monf’s hopes at UTS Frankfurt
Tennis Majors / UTS
Gael “La Monf” Monfils and Andrey “Rublo” Rublev have completed one of the most entertaining matches on the UTS Tour this season, with Rublo extinguishing La Monf’s hopes of making the Final Four, booking his own spot on Sunday at UTS Frankfurt (19-11, 16-14, 12-13, 13-12).
It was a clash that began as tense as possible, with Monfils needing to win 3-0 to have a chance of moving through to the semi-finals, and Rublev requiring just the one quarter to advance.
After a zoned-in La Monf couldn’t find a win in the opening quarter, the Frenchman put away thoughts of victory, instead turning on half an hour of sheer entertainment that saw squash shots, nets being kissed and more grunts than a Maria Sharapova match.
Oh and dancing, lots of dancing.
Rublo confirms La Monf’s fate, books own spot in UTS Frankfurt Final Four
Before this match descended into Monfils-driven chaos, it was a very competitive affair.
On the very first point, La Monf took issue to something distracting him off to his left on the court, insisting that the chair umpire intervene. Monfils was awarded a replay after Rublev agreed—only for the Frenchman to miss his serve and lose the replay.
Rublo raced out to a quick start, getting up 7-2 while his opponent was finding his range. It seemed Monfils could only hit winners or unforced errors, with the 37-year-old blasting beautiful backhands up the line, but also giving away far too many free points.
Nonetheless, La Monf reigned in his game and drew close to Rublo at 8-6, with plenty of running and focus as he looked to keep his UTS Frankfurt hopes alive. It wasn’t to be, however, as Monfils fell behind 18-10 heading into quarter point after missing his next point counts for three card.
In a precursor of what was to come, Monfils blasted perhaps the most spectacular shot of the tournament on quarter point. Rublo’s coach had cried out, “Hard, into the body”, ahead of the Russian’s serve, to which La Monf responded by standing all the way back against the wall to return.
With Rublo slicing his serve out wide at pace, Monfils belted the ball back with interest, playing a shot that any squash player—or baseball pitcher—would have been proud of, making a winner despite the ball passing less than a metre away from his opponent.
Monfils does what Monfils does best
With Gael Monfils’ fate at UTS Frankfurt decided after losing the opening quarter against Andrey Rublev, the match took a notable shift.
All of a sudden, the players were giggling together between quarters, with both looking to book their spots in the tournament highlight reel. Rublo got the party started with an enormous forehand inside out, to which Monfils immediately responded with his own helicopter forehand for a winner.
While La Monf was crushing balls, pulling his t-shirt over his head, screaming out during Rublo’s serve, grunting more than Sharapova in a heated baseline duel and generally getting inside his opponent’s head, there was some quite brilliant UTS played.
Outside of two excellent shot-makers pummelling winners left, right and centre, highlights definitely included La Monf serenading the net cord after it aided him in winning a point and Rublev making one of the quotes of the tournament: “Me, I’m Pinocchio, I can’t dance.”
Monfils spent most of the final quarter attempting to induce Rublev into a dance battle, with the Russian finally conceding and treating the Frankfurt crowd to a few choice moves.
“He was in my head, he made me smile, made me laugh. Then I was missing, then I wanted to punch him. This entertainment was impossible with Gael, he’s a legend of our sport,” declared Rublo after the match, aptly summarising what had just occurred.
