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‘Please don’t shout at him’ – Medvedev overcomes outburst to beat Monfils

Daniil Medvedev recovered from an angry mid-match outburst to beat Gael Monfils in his opening clay match of the season at the Monte Carlo Masters.

Medvedev was leading 6-2 1-2 when he was annoyed by two line calls on his baseline which he disagreed with.

He shouted at the line judge in frustration and umpire Mohamed Lahyani had to get down from his chair and plead with the world No. 4 to calm down.

“Please don’t shout at him. He [the line judge] can make a mistake as well,” Lahyani could be heard saying.

From 40-15 up, Medvedev was then broken and fell 4-1 behind as he vented his frustration again at the umpire during a change of ends.

However, Medvedev regathered himself and managed to reel off five games in a row to book his place in the next round.

Asked about the incident afterwards, Medvedev said: “I am happy I managed to at one moment try to stay calm, to get my composure, that’s what I wanted to do more this year.

“There are going to be moments when I still go crazy because…but I am 99% sure the ball was out. It’s a pity because I would have won the game and maybe I win 6-2, but I am happy that even from 4-1 I managed to come back win the set.”

Making only his second appearance in Monte Carlo since 2019, Medvedev looked solid from the start.

He broke in the fifth game after Monfils went long with a forehand and then went 5-2 up after a few errors from his opponent handed over another break.

Medvedev served out the set with a love hold and looked in command.

Monfils looked to be clinging on as he fought back from 15-40 to hold in the opening game of the second set and then saved three break points in his next service game.

But two controversial calls on the baseline looked like it could change the direction of the match.

First a shot from Monfils appeared to be incorrectly called out during a rally, then Medvedev was visibly angered when a line judge didn’t call a ball on his baseline out and after venting his frustration made two double faults and was broken after a lengthy rally.

With the crowd cheering on Monfils even more than before, the Frenchman moved 4-1 up.

But Medvedev regathered himself and reeled off five games in a row to seal the win.

Eighth seed Casper Ruud beat Alejandro Tabilo 6-2 6-4.

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‘Please don’t shout at him’ – Medvedev overcomes outburst to beat Monfils

Daniil Medvedev recovered from an angry mid-match outburst to beat Gael Monfils in his opening clay match of the season at the Monte Carlo Masters.

Medvedev was leading 6-2 1-2 when he was annoyed by two line calls on his baseline which he disagreed with.

He shouted at the line judge in frustration and umpire Mohamed Lahyani had to get down from his chair and plead with the world No. 4 to calm down.

“Please don’t shout at him. He [the line judge] can make a mistake as well,” Lahyani could be heard saying.

From 40-15 up, Medvedev was then broken and fell 4-1 behind as he vented his frustration again at the umpire during a change of ends.

However, Medvedev regathered himself and managed to reel off five games in a row to book his place in the next round.

Asked about the incident afterwards, Medvedev said: “I am happy I managed to at one moment try to stay calm, to get my composure, that’s what I wanted to do more this year.

“There are going to be moments when I still go crazy because…but I am 99% sure the ball was out. It’s a pity because I would have won the game and maybe I win 6-2, but I am happy that even from 4-1 I managed to come back win the set.”

Making only his second appearance in Monte Carlo since 2019, Medvedev looked solid from the start.

He broke in the fifth game after Monfils went long with a forehand and then went 5-2 up after a few errors from his opponent handed over another break.

Medvedev served out the set with a love hold and looked in command.

Monfils looked to be clinging on as he fought back from 15-40 to hold in the opening game of the second set and then saved three break points in his next service game.

But two controversial calls on the baseline looked like it could change the direction of the match.

First a shot from Monfils appeared to be incorrectly called out during a rally, then Medvedev was visibly angered when a line judge didn’t call a ball on his baseline out and after venting his frustration made two double faults and was broken after a lengthy rally.

With the crowd cheering on Monfils even more than before, the Frenchman moved 4-1 up.

But Medvedev regathered himself and reeled off five games in a row to seal the win.

Eighth seed Casper Ruud beat Alejandro Tabilo 6-2 6-4.

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Alcaraz puts on a ‘show’ in front of ‘legends’ as he beats Monfils to make last 16

Carlos Alcaraz moved into the last 16 of the Miami Open with a straight-sets victory over Gael Monfils.

The world No. 2 proved too good for Monfils, who appeared to injure his ankle early in the match, as he won 6-2 6-4 in 74 minutes.

Alcaraz will next face Lorenzo Musetti as he continues his quest for the Sunshine Double.

“He’s a great athlete. He reaches almost every ball,” said Alcaraz about Monfils.

“But at the same time, with my forehand, my best shot, I tried to move him around the court, tried to get him tired a little bit and give myself the chance to dominate the point, trying to go to the net and hitting my best shots.”

Alcaraz looked set for a routine win until a late burst from Monfils saw him break serve for the first time from 5-3 down in the second set.

A big forehand winner followed in the next game as Monfils made Alcaraz serve out the match.

That, though, was no problem for the world No. 2, who sealed the win with a love hold.

Among those watching were Brazil forward Neymar, NBA star Jimmy Butler and former world No. 3 Juan Martin del Potro.

Musetti books Alcaraz clash in Miami by stunning Shelton – Miami Open highlights

“It’s kind of difficult to stay focused on the match, having such legends from every sport,” said Alcaraz.

“It’s great for me. I try to show great tennis, try to make them happy as well, make them enjoy watching my games.

“It’s a great opportunity to have them here, to talk with them a little bit. It’s great to put on a show in front of them.”

Next up for Alcaraz is Musetti, who beat Ben Shelton 6-4 7-6(5) to advance.

Musetti recovered from 3-0 and 4-1 down in the second set as he made the last 16 in Miami for the first time.

“[My team was] saying patience because sometimes Ben, with the really good serves, could be really frustrating,” said the Italian.

“Some points I had an opportunity to break him in the second set, I didn’t find the right ball with the forehand. Sometimes he was serving pretty well, with the slice at the body.

“Even the last point was really tough to return. I had to be really patient and try to focus on what I had to do. I think I played probably the best match of the year.”

Musetti lost both matches against Alcaraz in straight sets last year.

“It’s always a nice challenge, especially for me,” he sad. “I have a huge friendship with him and we’ve played so many battles on court. He’s up in the score, so hopefully I can win this time. But I’m really looking forward to playing against him.

“He’s a great person, a great human being and a great athlete. For me, it’s an inspiration, so hopefully I can give my best and try to win that match.”

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Ruud comes from behind to beat Monfils and reach last eight

In-form Casper Ruud took the scenic route as he booked his place in the Indian Wells Masters quarter-finals for the first time.

The Norwegian, seeded ninth for the tournament, was forced to come from behind to beat Gael Monfils over three sets in California.

It extends his excellent run of form to 10 wins from his 12 tour level matches since a disappointing third round exit at the Australian Open.

But he did not have things all his own way when taking on an opponent who had already knocked out eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz and Britain’s Cameron Norrie.

Indeed, it was Monfils set the tone in the early exchanges, gaining an early break in the first set, which he took 6-3.

That meant another upset looked on the cards, as the Frenchman moved seamlessly around the court, unleashing a number of winners.

However, the 37-year-old began to tire in the second set, perhaps as a result of his mammoth win over Norrie in the previous round.

As such, it was a much tighter affair, with Ruud finding his range and his opponent often left trying to catch his breath after some exhausting rallies.

A tie break was still required to separate them, which the Norwegian took 7-3, much to the delight of an engaged crowd in California.

Monfils had a chance at a break in the opening stage of the decider, but after failing to convert that, he dropped serve himself.

That paved the way for Ruud to secure a 3-6 7-6 6-4 victory in just under two and a half hours.

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Norrie stunned by Monfils comeback in Indian Wells thriller, Rune beats Musetti

Cameron Norrie was eliminated from Indian Wells in the third round by 37-year-old Gael Monfils, who fought back from a set and a break down to seal a stunning comeback.

Norrie looked on course to progress to the fourth round after edging the first set before going up a break in the second, but a gritty Monfils stood firm to earn a set back and force a decider after a second tie-break.

The Frenchman then claimed the decider to reach the last 16 following a gripping three hour, 12 minute encounter.

Norrie secured a key early break following a lengthy opening game. Monfils conceded a couple of errors which the Brit capitalised on to earn five break points, and following some back and forth finally sealed the break with his sixth opportunity.

Monfils earned a break back chance in the sixth game, and Norrie put into the net with a backhand as the Frenchman broke back for 3-3.

At 5-5, another monstrous game followed. Monfils’ fourth double fault handed Norrie his 20th break point of the match, and Norrie broke after Monfils conceded a sixth double fault.

With Norrie serving for the set, Monfils fought back to force a tie-break with his third of three break points, as his British counterpart went long with an attempted winner.

Both players made unforced errors early in the tie-break, but Norrie displayed some scintillating tennis to seal the first set after one hour and 22 minutes.

The 28-year-old started the second set in a similar fashion, holding serve in the first game before gaining another early break when Monfils conceded yet another double fault.

A third ace could not help Norrie hold for 4-2, as Monfils broke back when the British No. 1 came to the net before hitting a volley long.

The pair exchanged holds until another breaker was needed, which Monfils edged in some style to take the match to a decider.

Monfils continued his resurgent form and struck the decisive blow in the third set to break Norrie for 5-3.

Norrie could not match the world No. 70’s efforts to come from behind to take the match to a tie-break, as the veteran sealed a huge victory.

Monfils will play either Casper Ruud or Arthur Fils in the fourth round.

Rune dispatches Musetti

Seventh seed Holger Rune defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-2 7-6(5) in his opening match of the tournament, after receiving a walkover in the round of 64 against Milos Raonic.

The Dane was too good for his Italian counterpart as he reached the fourth round for the first time in California following a 96-minute encounter.

Rune started fast to dominate the first set before holding firm to deny a second-set fightback from Musetti and confirm his place in the last 16, where he will play either Taylor Fritz or Sebastian Baez.

“I felt great,” Rune said after the match. “Finally, the wait was over. I was so eager to play.

“On Saturday, when I heard it was a walkover, obviously I wish [Raonic] all the best. I really wanted to play, but that’s how it is.

“I just got two extra practice days, which is good, and managed to come in in good shape today.”

Elsewhere, Alexander Zverev moved past Tallon Griekspoor with a 7-6(7) 6-3 victory, while Ben Shelton beat Francisco Cerundolo in three sets, winning 7-6(5) 3-6 7-6(5).

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