Cincinnati (USA) (AFP)

Benoît Paire, 29th in the world, took advantage of Spain's Fernando Verdasco's retirement to go to the second round of the Cincinnati Masters 1000 on Tuesday, unlike Gael Monfils, eliminated 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 then that he had four balls to remove the first set.

Monfils, 15th world player and French N.1, squandered the lead accumulated at the start of the first set, where he led 5-2 after a smash raging net, and even 4-1 and 6-4 in the decisive game, for give the first run to the American Frances Tiafoe, 52nd world at 21, and who probably did not expect such a gift from his opponent.

After losing the initial set on his own face-off, Monfils, forced to forfeit his semifinal match against Rafael Nadal at the Montreal Masters 1000 due to an ankle injury, is completely out of the match easily won by the American.

There are only three French left in the second round in Cincinnati, the last tournament before the US Open: Benoît Paire, Lucas Pouille and, of course, Richard Gasquet, Andy Murray's scorer for the return of the double Olympic champion and triple winner in British Grand Slam.

If Monfils did not seize his chances, Benedict Paire did not have him, to be used too much since Verdasco, suffering "of the knee since already a moment", according to the words of the French, preferred to give up after having yielded the first set 6-4.

"He (Verdasco) preferred not to take any chances before the US Open, but the victory is good for me because it allows to revive a little machine," added Paire referring to his defeat in the first round to Montreal.

Benoît Paire could find in the second round Daniil Medvedev (8th world), finalist Sunday in Montreal against Rafael Nadal. The Russian is opposed to the British Kyle Edmund.

Good news for Richard Gasquet (56th) who had to face Dominic Thiem in the second round: the Austrian, 4th world player and quarter-finalist in Montreal, decided to throw in the towel due to an early fever. As a result, the French will have for opponent the Italian Federico Delbonis, 66th world player, for a first confrontation.

© 2019 AFP