TENNIS NEWS – MIRACLE COMEBACK OVER IVO KARLOVIC BY GAEL MONFILS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. HEAT GIVES HIM HIS FIRST 500-POINT TITLE

Written by: Staff on 24th July 2016

Citi Open tennis tournament in Washington DC

TENNIS NEWS - MIRACLE COMEBACK OVER IVO KARLOVIC BY GAEL MONFILS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. HEAT GIVES HIM HIS FIRST 500-POINT TITLE

epa05439657 Gael Monfils of France holds the Citi Open trophy following his win over Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during the men's final match of the Citi Open tennis tournament, at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center in Washington, DC, USA, 24 July 2016. EPA/ZACH GIBSON |

Ricky Dimon

Already a shocking 5-19 lifetime in ATP finals, Gael Monfils was four Ivo Karlovic serves away from what appeared to be another heartbreaking defeat with a title on the line. It seemed as if Monfils would be unable to shed the label as being the most talented player on the ATP World Tour to have never won anything better than a 250-point title.

But that’s when it all went wrong for Karlovic and went suddenly right for Monfils. The Frenchman saved one championship point–and countless virtual championship points–to overcome the No. 13 seed 5-7, 7-6(6), 6-4 in the Citi Open final on Sunday. Monfils survived 28 Karlovic aces and delivered one of the most improbable service breaks anyone will ever see to prevail after two hours and 13 minutes.

The title match appeared to be all but over when Karlovic seized his second break of the afternoon for a 5-4 lead in the second set. The 6’11” Croat had not surrendered serve a single time in the entire event–a streak of 53 straight holds–when he stepped up to the line in an attempt to clinch the trophy. In a flash, however, Karlovic’s usually steadfast right arm tightened up with the biggest title of his career in his grasp.

Gael Monfils of France in against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia during the men’s final match of the Citi Open tennis tournament, at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center in Washington, DC, USA, 24 July 2016. EPA/ZACH GIBSON

Ivo Karlovic of Croatia in action against Gael Monfils of France during the men’s final match of the Citi Open tennis tournament, at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center in Washington, DC, USA, 24 July 2016. EPA/ZACH GIBSON

Karlovic soon found himself trailing 0-40, but it looked like deja vu when two huge serves shrunk the deficit to 30-40. In the opening set, the world No. 35 had snuffed out a 0-40 opportunity for Monfils in the 12th game by winning six of the ensuing seven points.

It was all on Karlovic’s racket to accomplish the same feat at 5-4 in the second set, but he overhit a forehand volley right on top of the net and sent it sailing over the baseline–but just barely–to give Monfils the break.

“I don’t know why, but my serve stopped (when I served for the match),” Karlovic explained. “It happens, I guess; I’m not used to that. I was going to win and I lost my serve. That is tennis. Of course, every match you have a little bit of pressure. I’ve dealt with that in many matches and usually I’m able to get over it. Today I couldn’t. But it was a great week.”

Despite the obvious disappointment, the 37-year-old’s physical and mental dip did not begin until the third set. Karlovic held easily at 5-6 to force a second-set ‘reaker and took care of every service point en route to a 6-5, championship-point lead. Monfils erased it with a clutch serve, edged ahead 7-6 by winning his next service point, and finished the second by forcing Karlovic into a low volley that he could not handle.

The hard-to-believe momentum swing became complete when Monfils broke again for a 2-1 advantage in the decider. Karlovic’s only opening in the third came with Monfils serving at 4-3, 0-30, but the world No. 17 quickly won four consecutive points to hold for 5-3. A hold to 15 at 5-4 completed Monfils’ comeback and gave him just his sixth career ATP title–and first at the 500-point level.

Ivo Karlovic of Croatia holds the runner-up trophy following his loss against Gael Monfils of France during the men’s final match of the Citi Open tennis tournament, at Rock Creek Park Tennis Center in Washington, DC, USA, 24 July 2016. EPA/ZACH GIBSON

“I still had this hope that I would have the chances that I did in the first set (in the 0-40 game),” Monfils said of seeing Karlovic serve for the match at 7-5, 5-4. “I was like, ‘I need to make him play.’ I think I [was] very lucky that he missed two volleys…. It was luck. It wasn’t a regular win.”

It was, in a way, the most important win of Monfils’ career. Although he has reached major semis and Masters 1000 finals, including earlier this year in Monte-Carlo, his 5-19 record in ATP finals had featured nothing more than 250-point titles. Now he has a 500-point title to his credit, and he joins a vaunted list of Washington, D.C. champions that includes Arthur Ashe, Yannick Noah, Ivan Lendl, Jimmy Connors, Andre Agassi, and Stefan Edberg.

Within a matter of minutes after Sunday’s thriller was over, Monfils’ name was the latest to be etched on the stadium walls.

“Definitely to have my name next to them, it’s priceless,” he assured. “I’m very happy. It’s a special moment for me.”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp World Tour, Citi Open final, Gael Monfils, Ivo Karlovic, Ricky Dimon, Sports, Tennis News, Washington DC

Follow 10SBALLS.COM on:

Facebook:

Twitter:

rosigcua says:

July 26, 2016 at 7:29 am

RT @serveitup10smag: TENNIS NEWS – MIRACLE COMEBACK OVER IVO KARLOVIC BY GAEL #JrTennis #JuniorTennis #Tennis https://t.co/GOHrDjOAiB https…