Monfils Outmanoeuvres Evans To Keep Rotterdam Double Hopes Alive

Gael Monfils stretched his winning streak in Rotterdam to seven matches with a 7-6(5), 6-2 quarterfinal win against Dan Evans.

With the Frechman and Evans on the court, it was the promise of cat-and-mouse rallies galore — and both players didn’t wait long to prove it to the Rotterdam crowd.

Hitting all the high notes ??@Gael_Monfils and Dan Evans putting on a show in Rotterdam. #abnamrowtt pic.twitter.com/IfIOfr9x3a

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 14, 2020

It’s the lower ranked and least accomplished player of the two, Dan Evans, who claimed the first break at 4-4 behind some vintage play.

But serving for the set, the Brit scrambled and Monfils, the defending champion, got back on serve.

Down 1-4 in the breaker, it is Evans, this time, who rallied to get back to 5-5, powered by this sublime cross-court forehand pass.

WORLD CLASS!

That’s the only way to describe this tennis from Dan Evans ?

?: @TennisTV | #abnamrowtt pic.twitter.com/z9HLUUuA2Y

— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 14, 2020

Monfils proved stronger to win the next two points, and the set, and the next four games to take a decisive 7-6(5), 4-0 advantage — and Evans wasn’t pleased about it.

“Nice tie you’re wearing. You look very good but you’re fucking awful in the chair.”

Dan Evans to Chair Umpire Timo Janzen. Always a delight that one. Chair umpire cannot call a let if the machine doesn’t call a let.

— René Denfeld (@Renestance) February 14, 2020

Monfils then spinned his way to victory, 7-6(5), 6-2, finishing off with an ace.

When you’ve just got to hit a forehand ?@Gael_Monfils @abnamrowtt pic.twitter.com/9msiZGvnpW

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) February 14, 2020

In the semifinals, the Frenchman, who won the title last week in Montpellier, will face Filip Krajinovic, who stunned Andrey Rublev 7-6(2), 6-4.