Carreno Busta crushes Monfils’s dreams, sets up Metz final against Hurkacz

The final of the Moselle Open will be contested between the top seed, Hubert Hurkacz, and the No 2 seed, Pablo Carreño Busta.

Hurkacz defeated Peter Gojowczyk in the first semi-final, 6-4, 7-6(4), the Spaniard progressed by beating Gaël Monfils, the third seed, 7-5, 7-6(8) in one hour and 47 minutes.

The Frenchman – who won the tournament in 2009, and was a runner-up in 2005 – seemed to be on his way to his first final since the ATP 500 in Rotterdam in 2020, breaking at the start to go 3-0 up.

In the second-set tiebreak, the Frenchman finally managed to hit his forehand to get to three consecutive set points at 6-3, then a fourth at 7-6. He may regret wasting the third, on his serve, hitting his forehand too hard and sending it one metre out. He will also regret a more straightforward high volley, which went into the net at eight-all.

Carreno Busta, for his part, did not hesitate to take his own chances and progressed to his third final of the season, after Hamburg and Marbella, both of which he won. This time he will face Hubert Hurkacz, with a close battle in prospect as they seek to secure a spot at the year-end finals.