For a second straight day, the Australian Open night session featured a pair of five-setters. The second half of the second round was not quite as wild, as there were no Australians involved in the thrillers and there were no match points saved (or squandered).
On Monday night, Thanasi Kokkinakis survived four match points to outlast Ernests Gulbis and fellow Aussie Nick Kyrgios fought past Federico Delbonis. On Tuesday night it was Vasek Pospisil’s and Gael Monfils’ turns to take center stage.
But Pospisil and Monfils got huge assists from their opponents.
Sam Querrey led the Canadian by two sets to one and held comfortably throughout the fourth and fifth until 4-5 in each set. Here is the American’s 4-5 service game in the fifth:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0nlEPmJvhGM]
In an all-French showdown, Lucas Pouille led two sets to love before Monfils woke up. Even then, the underdog surged ahead 3-0 in the fifth before getting broken at 3-1 and melting down at 4-4. Here are the last two points of Pouille’s 4-4 service game:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aq_iRwd_3Ag]
Both Pospisil and Monfils won 6-4 in the decider.
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Ricky- bang on with all you say about the Monfils v Janowicz matchup. Maybe this should actually be a test for insanity. What do you thinks going to happen in the Monfils v Janowicz match? Any answer other than ‘no f***ing idea’ or words to that effect, sees the straight jackets come out.
yep. will be interesting, to say the least!