Gael Monfils defends his title in Rotterdam as he sweeps aside Felix Auger-Aliassime in straight sets
- Gael Monfils won the Rotterdam Open for the second year running on Sunday
- The entertaining Frenchman beat teenager Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 6-4
- He becomes the first man since Robin Soderling to defend the title in Rotterdam
Gael Monfils emulated his idol Arthur Ashe by winning back-to-back Rotterdam Open titles, the Frenchman sailing to a stress-free 6-2, 6-4 victory over Canadian teen Felix Auger-Aliassime.
The World No 9 looked every part the defending champion, preying on the weaknesses of an inexperienced, frequently tense opponent to triumph in an hour and 26 minutes.
‘It was a passive match for me,’ Monfils said. ‘I choose to be in defence quite a lot. To try to control the game in a different way because I know Felix is a very aggressive player. The further back you are the more you can you can embrace the power of the shot. I knew that physically it would be tough for him to counter me.’
Gael Monfils celebrates his victory against Felix Auger-Aliassime in the Rotterdam Open final
The Frenchman emerged victorious in one hour and 26 minutes for two titles in as many years
In the first meeting between the two tall, wiry right-handers, there was initially little to separate them before Monfils, 33, broke in the fifth game.
Auger-Aliassime, the youngest-ever finalist in Rotterdam, punched his head with right hand between sets, urging himself to think.
But Monfils consolidated the break and rattled off the next two games to win the first set in 39 minutes.
While Auger-Aliassime, 19, struggled with his serve and had to battle for every point, Monfils effortlessly went through the repertoire: booming serve, moving his opponent around the court, lithe, lively movement and some fine, frequently acrobatic winners.
In this mood, Monfils is a tough opponent, as Auger-Aliassime admitted. ‘He really gave me a few doubts. I wasn’t serving so good today. And yet things were just getting tougher and tougher, physically and mentally.
‘He mastered what he is good at: defending. Making you play the extra ball,’ he added.
Monfils had too much for 19-year-old Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime on Sunday afternoon
‘He pushes you to make the mistake. He pushes you to go a bit further than you would. I was missing, and missing again.’
The second set continued in a similar vein, Monfils let Auger-Aliassime make the mistakes, while his focus remained intact.
The Rotterdam crowd cheered every point the Canadian made. They wanted a final, but they didn’t get one.
And after surviving championship point, Auger-Aliassime broke back after thrice taking Monfils to deuce at 5-2.
And a confident hold by the world No 21, sealed by a wonderful cross court forehand, kept alive the slim hope of the crowd seeing a third set.
But, serving for the championship for the second time, Monfils kept his head to wrap up his 10th straight win here.
Monfils poses with the winners plate alongside his backroom team on court in Rotterdam
In doing so, he becomes the first man since Sweden’s Robin Soderling in 2011 to win consecutive titles in Rotterdam.
He is the fourth player in history to do so after American great Ashe, (1975-76), Swede Stefan Edberg (1987-88) and Frenchman Nicolas Escude (2001-02).
Despite losing his fourth ATP final, Auger-Aliassime looked back on a positive week.
‘I’ll be back in years to come. For a tournament of this size it’s unbelievable,’ he said.
But after winning the second title in as many weeks – and tenth of his career – Monfils admitted that he is thinking big.
‘The dream is to win a slam. That’s what I’m playing for, that’s what I’m dreaming for. Maybe one day I will be lucky enough to win one.’