FRENCH enigma Gael Monfils wound back the clock with an impressive straight sets victory over fellow veteran Damir Dzumhur to reach the second round of the 2024 Shanghai ATP 1000 Masters yesterday. Monfils won 6-4 6-3 in an hour and 21 minutes, and despite the relatively rudimentary nature of the win, said it was still a challenge.

“It was not easy, Damir is a really fast player,” Monfils said post-match. “It was a little bit slower with these conditions, so it helped him stay in the points. I couldn’t really power him off the court, but it also helped me sometimes. So, at the end of the day, I tried to focus on my game and use my serve and forehand as much as I can.”

Monfils is yet to make it past a quarter final in Shanghai, but started on the best possible note with the win, moving to 3-0 over Dzumhur in the process. The Frenchman served four aces and won 67 and 59 per cent of his first and second serve points, shading the Bosnia-Herzegovina representative who finished with 65 and 44 per cent respectively.

Monfils critically saved seven of eight break point opportunities against him, while converting four of his own seven chances. There was not a lot between the pair, but Monfils’ variety and court coverage stood out as he won 11 more total points (68-57) en route to the win.

The world number 46 will now take on Argentinian 22nd seed Sebastian Baez in the second round, with the winner to play either Tokyo finalist and 16th seed Ugo Humbert or another Frenchman in Arthur Cazaux who took down Croatian powerhouse Marin Cilic 6-4 6-4 in the first round,.

In the all Spanish battle, Roberto Carballes Baena got the better of Roberto Bautista Agut in three. sets, joining compatriot Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the Round of 64. Pablo Carreno Busta was not as fortunate, going down to Dutchman Botic Van de Zandschulp.

It was a good day for qualifiers with former Top 20 player Denis Shapovalov taking out Italian Lorenzo Sonego in two tiebreakers, while American Zachary Svajda and Australian Aleksandar Vukic both won their respective encounters.

Two local hopes in action – Juncheng Shang and Yibing Wu – both won through to the Round of 64, while more French chances booked their places in the next stage with Arthur Rinderknech and Alexandre Muller victorious. Fabio Fognini won the all-Italian battle against Luciano Darderi, while Japanese duo Kei Nishikori and Taro Daniel were other first round winners.