World Tennis Tournament: Monfils edges closer to back-to-back titles as Carreno Busta continues run
ONE teenager was bundled out, while another advanced through to the final four as third seed Gael Monfils tightened his grip on back-to-back ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament titles. Monfils triumphed just last week at Montpellier and he looks to add a ninth title to his illustrious career – the first time he would have won two titles in a calendar year. He still has a little way to go yet, but the signs were there in a straight sets win over Great Britan’s Dan Evans. He won 7-6 6-2 in an hour and 52 minutes to book a spot in the semi-finals against Serbian, Filip Krajinovic who defeated the in-form seventh seed Russian, Andrey Rublev 7-6 6-4.
In the other half of the draw, Spain’s Pablo Carreno Busta escaped a fast-finishing Jannik Sinner, defeating the wildcard in three sets 7-5 3-6 7-6. The deciding set tiebreaker went to 8-6 before the Spaniard got home, knocking over the 18-year-old who the day before had sent number four seed David Goffin, packing. Carreno Busta has had a really strong tournament since defeating Roberto Bautista Agut on his way to move to the last four, and against Sinner he won 70 per cent of his first serve points and managed to save a whopping 12 of 14 opportunities. He only broke twice himself throughout the match, but stemmed Sinner’s strong serving ability as the Italian redhead put down nine aces and only dropped 14 points off his first serve. It was his second serve when the 28-year-old Spaniard took advantage, winning 53 per cent of the points on his way to victory in a thriller.
Carreno Busta will now take on another teenager in Felix Auger-Aliassime in the semi-finals. Auger-Aliassime defeated Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene in straight sets to book a spot in the final four. The Canadian 19-year-old has already moved up to number 19 in the world, will move past John Isner in 18th with a semi-finals win, and could go up to a career-high 15th if he wins the title. Carreno Busta has moved up three spots so far from the tournament, and if he takes out the title he will take Auger-Aliassime’s 19th spot. It is a different story for Monfils who needs to win to maintain his spot in ninth.
QUARTER FINALS RESULTS:
[3] Gael Monfils (FRA) defeated Daniel Evans (GBR) 7-6 6-2
Filip Krajinovic (SRB) defeated [7] Andrey Rublev (RUS) 7-6 6-4
Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN) defeated Aljaz Bedene (SLO) 6-4 7-6
Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP) defeated [WC] Jannik Sinner (ITA) 7-5 3-6 7-6
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