Open Sud de France, Montpellier

Monfils’ 4th Montpellier Final

[9] Gael Monfils (FRA) will face [132] Vasek Pospisil (CAN) in the final. It will be the thirtieth singles final for the Frenchman and the second for the Canadian. Monfils seems to have rediscovered his interest in playing consistently quality tennis. He had a two-year drought before he won his seventh singles final in 2018 and his eighth singles title in 2019. Unfortunately for the Frenchman, his record in finals is under fifty percent (27.58%) and he will be looking to change that tomorrow (8:21).

Pospisil Will Have His Hands Full

Monfils leads their head-to-head 5:0. To make matters worse for the Canadian, he has never taken a set from Monfils. Add to these two facts, they will be playing on Monfils’ home soil. Then we throw in the emotion Pospisil will be feeling in being in his first final since 2014 and it will be a stern test for the Canadian to pass if he wants to claim his first ATP Tour singles title.

Pospisil’s Decline Due To Back Issues

In 2014, the Canadian was ranked as high as number twenty-five in singles and number four in doubles. Many may remember him for winning the Wimbledon doubles final in 2014 with American Jack Sock. Of his seven doubles finals made, the Canadian won six. So much was expected of the Canadian, until injury and lack of confidence intervened and completely derailed him. It certainly did not help matters when he had back surgery in January 2019, missing six months of the season. His back problems begun to affect his game in 2014.

Today Was A Battle

Coming into today’s match, the odds were stacked against Pospisil; he had lost their only previous encounter in three sets in 2013 and a lot had changed since then for the Canadian. However, Pospisil looked to be in control against the number two seed, David Goffin ((BEL), after he won the first set 6-3. Yet, Goffin is a little terrier and would not give up without a fight. He fought back to even the match by winning the second set 6-1 as doubts perhaps crept into the Canadian’s mind.

 Goffin currently ranked number ten and ranked as high as number seven in 2017 seemed to have seized the momentum in the third set, but Pospisil was not ready to concede defeat. The Canadian had worked too hard to get this opportunity. Pospisil fought back to win 6-3, 1-6, 7-5 to claim a much-needed victory; a victory that will give him a boost of confidence tomorrow when he faces Monfils in the final.

SOURCE OF IMAGES: Zimbio.com (Getty Images Europe)