Monfils beats Wawrinka in Rotterdam, Cecchinato and Opelka also triumph

ATP Finals have not always been kind to Gael Monfils. But his 29th appearance resulted in arguably his biggest and best win.

Previously 7-21 lifetime in title matches, Monfils lifted a 500-point trophy for the second time in his career after he defeated Stan Wawrinka 6-3, 1-6, 6-2 at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament on Sunday. The Frenchman started hot and finished with a flurry to triumph after one hour and 44 minutes.

“We have been practicing all winter together, and really for the past 14 years too,” Monfils said of Wawrinka, who won Rotterdam in 2015 and has captured 16 career titles. “In these matches, it’s tricky to surprise the other. I was a bit tougher than him in the third set and changed the rhythm, as I felt he was playing heavy in the second set and I felt like I couldn’t handle it. I had to break his momentum. I had to be more aggressive and sneak in some serve and volley tennis.”

Monfils broke early and did not face a single break point opener before things got away from him in set two.

“I was stressed and angry (in the second),” the 32-year-old admitted, “but I had to think about it and in the third game of the decider. I took my chance and gained energy.”

Monfils previously got the job done at the 500-point level three years ago in Washington, D.C.–perhaps a more prestigious tournament but one in which he did not have to beat a three-time Grand Slam champion in the final (d. Ivo Karlovic).

“We know each other really well, as we’ve practiced a lot in the offseason and before (the recent tournament in) Sofia,” Wawrinka noted. “It was a tough final and Gael played really well. He did what he had to do at the right moments. I was struggling with my footwork at times to be more aggressive on my groundstrokes. That’s what made the difference.

“It’s great to have been back in the final, but also how I played to get there. I played a good match and good level today; it’s great to see the level is there across a full week. I have to keep doing what I’ve been doing over the past few months–working hard off the court, playing matches and building my confidence.”

Elsewhere, Marco Cecchinato crushed Deigo Schwartzman in the Buenos Aires final and Reilly Opelka won a second straight third-set tiebreaker in New York–this time over Brayden Schnur after upsetting John Isner in the semis.

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