Monfils, Zverev win absolutely wild ones in Montreal

Gael Monfils staged one of the most improbable comebacks of the entire year when he stunned Kei Nishikori 6-7(4), 7-5, 7-6(6) in round two of the Rogers Cup on Wednesday afternoon. Monfils survived the brink of defeat on numerous occasions and saved four match points before prevailing in two hours and 41 minutes.

Nishikori led by a set, 5-2 in the second, 5-3 in the third, and 6-2 in the final-set tiebreaker, but he could never quite cross the finish line.

“It’s a good victory for many reasons,” Monfils assured. “It’s a big revenge, because last year around this time I had the same thing actually against Kei. I was up 6-2 in the tiebreak in the Olympics in the quarterfinals and I lost. So I know exactly what he feels. Actually last year, as well, I played him in Miami. I also had five match points and I lost it 7-6 in the third.

“I’m more than happy because I fought through the toughness–because it was tough for me. It was a bit like a rollercoaster. I was a break down in each set. I needed courage and a lot of luck. Matches like this depend on luck, also. I was able to play at a higher level at 5-2 (in the second set). The same thing happened in the third set. Now, for the last points, I needed to be brave and also have some luck; a lot of luck.”

Highlights:

The past two Washington, D.C. champions (Monfils in 2016, Alexander Zverev in 2017) are both finding success north of the border this week. But like the Frenchman, Zverev came within one point of packing his bags on Wednesday. The 20-year-old German, who triumphed on Sunday in the U.S. capital, outlasted Richard Gasquet 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(3) in two hours and 30 minutes.

Zverev fought off a match point with an epic 49-shot rally at 5-6, 30-40 in the third set:

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