Paris (AFP)
Gael Monfils (13th) said goodbye to the Masters at the end of the season, blown 6-2, 6-2 in 59 minutes by Canadian Denis Shapovalov (28th) in the quarterfinals of the Masters 1000 Paris on Friday.
To pocket the last qualifying round for the London tournament bringing together the eight best players of the season, Monfils had imperatively to climb into the last four. It is the Italian Matteo Berrettini who eventually inherits it.
Shapovalov will face Rafael Nadal (N.2) or Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (35th) for a place in the final.
Monfils never had a chance against the young Canadian southpaw. More lively and much more punchy, Shapovalov quickly widened the gap in the first set thanks to a double break.
Very successful, especially with his aesthetic one-handed backhand, he did not release his prey in the second and quickly escaped 4 games to 0. On the other side of the net, Monfils was taken speed, exceeded by the length of the strikes of his adversary, and struggled to hold the exchange. Which earned him a sad record of seven winning strokes for sixteen unforced errors.
The day before, Monfils had escaped the clutches of Moldovan Radu Albot (50) in extremis, after having accused a set and a late break (6-4, 4-3).
But he did not fully enjoy a particularly favorable picture, released by the last minute package of Roger Federer, to afford a qualification for the Masters for the second time in his career.
What he posted as the N.1 goal of his season, finish in the top 10, is nonetheless filled.
Shapovalov, meanwhile, will play his fourth semifinal in Masters 1000, his second in 2019 after Miami (lost against Federer). He lost in the previous three.
His Parisian career already ensures him to make his return in the top 20 and even to achieve the best ranking of his career next Monday.
© 2019 AFP