Monfils finally starting to feel at home on grass in London
GAEL MONFILS has revealed he has finally learned how to love grass after reaching Wimbledon’s third round for the second year running.
Frenchman Monfils edged past Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7/5) 7-6 (7/3) on Wednesday to book a clash with 11th seed Sam Querrey.
Even after beating Britain’s Kyle Edmund in the second round last year, Monfils maintained he harboured a serious dislike for the grass.
But now the 31-year-old believes he has discovered a newfound appreciation for his leastfavourite surface.
“After years and years of improving slowly, finally I can say that I like the grass,” said Monfils.
“I’m happy, with the way I’ve played in these two matches. I’m trying to like the grass as much now as I like playing tennis.
“I’ve had to have the mindset that it’s just another surface.”
Roger Federer has a long-lasting love affair with the courts, and the top seed put on a scintillating display as he destroyed Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko 6-4 6-4 6-1 in just 90 minutes. He showed off a great variety of shots, firing down 48 winners, which included one outrageous drop shot in the first set that left Lacko with his hands on his hips.
Canada’s 13th seed Milos Raonic swept past Australian John Millman in straight sets, 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/4), to book a thirdround clash with Dennis Novak, who toppled 17th seed Lucas Pouille in a fine five-set victory.
Big-serving Croatian Ivo Karlovic served 61 aces but still slipped to a galling five-set defeat, to Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.
Struff prevailed 6-7 (5/7) 3-6 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/4) 13-11 in a clash lasting almost four hours, and he will face Federer next.
Third seed Marin Cilic was heading for a straight-sets victory over Argentina’s Guido Pella, when rain interrupted proceedings, trailing 6-3 6-1 3-4. KATIE SWAN will leave Wimbledon feeling she is not far away from the world’s top players despite a heavy defeat in the second round.
The 19-year-old produced the performance of the day on Monday from a British perspective to beat IrinaCamelia Begu but found a second Romanian in Mihaela Buzarnescu a different prospect altogether.
Buzarnescu is seeded 29th but is in the top 16 on 2018 results after a remarkable rise, little more than a year after she thought injuries had wrecked her career.
She was ruthless in the first set against Swan, who did not get on the board until the opening game of the second set, and the Romanian eventually came through 6-0 6-3. Swan later teamed up with Katie Boulter in a first-round doubles loss against 14th seeds Lucie Hradecka and Hsieh Su-wei, with Boulter due to play 18th seed Naomi Osaka in the second round of the singles on Thursday.
Asked what advice she would give her partner, Swan said: “I played a really tough opponent today so it was difficult. It was really nice to be on Court Three and have all the support behind me.
“Katie is playing a great player tomorrow and she’s got no pressure. I’d say just go out and enjoy it and swing freely. At the same time go in with the belief that you can win, because I don’t think we’re too far off these girls even if we don’t win at the moment. We are gaining experience all the time. You never know.”
Bristolian Swan, who received a good luck text message from mentor Andy Murray, said: “I definitely felt nerves going out there, which I think is a good thing, because it meant I really cared. Even after winning my first match, I wanted to keep going in the tournament.”