Montpellier OpenUpdate: Sud de France (02/06/12)

Written by: Staff on 6th February 2012

Singles – Final: (1) T Berdych def. (3) G Monfils 6-2 4-6 6-3

It was just before the two hour mark when Tomas Berdych finally secured his key break. It was truly hard-fought; both players won in excess of 75% of first serve points. But Gael Monfils won a miserable 29% of second serve points, and that made the difference; he was broken three times, while Berdych was broken only once.

In practical terms, it makes no difference to Berdych. #7 he came in, and #7 he remains, with little chance of moving up any time soon. On the other hand, he wins his seventh career title, and first on indoor hardcourt. Although, curiously, he has never won more than one title in a year, he has now won a title in five of the last six years, and seven of the last nine. A pretty solid streak.

Gael Monfils loses his chance to make it four straight years with a title. He was technically the defending champion here, but those points were already off, so at least he doesn’t fall in the rankings. He would have been #12 had he won this. As it is, he has to settle for #13.

Doubles – Final: Mahut/Roger-Vasselin def. (3) Hanley/Murray 6-4 7-6(7-4)

The French really do like watching French players win titles — and French players, on the evidence, like being watched. This is Nicolas Mahut’s fourth doubles title, and all four have been in France with French partners. All four on indoor hardcourts, in fact: He won Metz 2003 with Benneteau, Metz 2004 with Clement, Lyon 2009 with Benneteau, and now he has a title in a third French city, with a third French partner.

The really big news, though, is for Edouard Roger-Vasselin, who not only reached his first final of any kind but won his first title of any kind. He commented, “Nicolas and I won a few titles at the Challenger level, but to win a title on the ATP World Tour, especially in France, it’s wonderful.”

Topics: Gael Monfils, Tomas Berdych