Gael the showman extends his stay on the Med

Gael Monfils caught a late break to stay in touch at the Monte Carlo Masters on Sunday, with the retiring French icon moving into the second round  as he beat Tallon Griekspoor in a 6-7 (7), 6-1, 6-4 fightback victory.

The popular French shotmaker and showman spent two and a quarter hours in earning his win as he played the event for the last time after making his first appearance 21 years ago as a wild card in the principality.

Monfils,39, who will retire at the end of this season, bounced back strong after dropping the opening set against the Dutchman who withdrew a month ago with injury from the Dubai Championships as attacks in the Middle East kicked off only hours before the start of pay. 

Monfils, with the French public supporting, stormed back into contention in the first round meeting,  sweeping the second set and coming good on his third match point in the deciding set to advance.”I was indeed a little tense at the beginning,” Monfils said. “He lost his rhythm on serve, which allowed me to get back into the match (after losing the opening set).

.”He would string together a point, an error, a point, an error, so it was difficult to adjust.

“But I managed to find my rhythm and control what I wanted to do. And in the end, I was able to serve better, which helped me a lot.”

Monfils, a longtime fan favourite, added: “”The first match on clay is never easy, I had to find the balance of emotions. I know this is my last year and it’s not easy.

“But in the end I found my game. (My career) has been a long fide, but here I am – I’m here and I won a match.

“It’s not easy to control the emotions, I love to play with emotion, I love the crowds – it is a joy for me to play.”

Monfils next faces Alexander Bublik for a place in the third  round. The French winner becomes the second-oldest man to win a Masters 1000 title after his 145th career victory in the elite series. .