Wimbledon (United Kingdom) (AFP)
Gaël Monfils, 13th in the world, was eliminated Thursday in the second round of Wimbledon by the Spaniard Pedro Martinez (107th in the world) 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/5).
Monfils, 34, had reached the round of 16 at Wimbledon in 2018 but lost in the first round in 2019.
For his part, Martinez who participates at 24 in his first Major on grass, will face the Chilean Cristian Garin (20th), aiming for a round of 16 against the world No.1 Novak Djokovic.
Monfils had started the game well by taking Martinez's service from the start.
But he then let the Spaniard line up five games in a row and couldn't prevent him from winning the round.
In the second, Martinez managed the break to lead 3-2 and did not let go of his advantage.
But Monfils hung in the third round: he did not concede the slightest break point and converted the only one he managed to get, on the set point.
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The fourth set was very balanced until Martinez made the break, taking advantage of a huge direct foul from Monfils on an attacking forehand, to lead 6-5 and serve to win the game.
A heavy fall from Monfils, in a slide that put his legs in lateral extension in the next game, seemed to seal the meeting.
Martinez also obtained on his service a first match point, saved by the French who managed to equalize at 6-6.
But Martinez quickly broke away in the tie break, offering himself two new match points and concluding on the second, the third in total.
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Gaël Monfils was on his fourth consecutive match day since his first round against the Australian Christopher O'Connell (130th), beaten 4-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 6-4, had spread over three days, interrupted twice by night.
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