French Open: Koepfer misses surprise against Medvedev, Monfils with record
Dominik Koepfer missed a surprise at the French Open in Paris. Local hero Gael Monfils, however, celebrated a record victory.
by SID / tennisnet
last edit:
May 28, 2024, 06:33 am
Koepfer, ranked 65th in the world, lost to the favored Russian Daniil Medvedev in the night session on Monday after more than three hours of play with 3:6, 4:6, 7:5, 3:6 and thus has to return home after the first round.
"I played very well," said the 28-year-old Medvedev, who only won the duel against the stubborn German shortly before half past twelve: "And in the third set, I have no idea why, he started playing at his best level and was running everywhere."
Medvedev had already led by a break here, but the German fought back and won the set. Medvedev then pulled away in the fourth set.
In the second round, Medvedev, the number five seed, will face Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic. From a German perspective, Olympic champion and Nadal conqueror Alexander Zverev (Hamburg), Maximilian Marterer (Nuremberg), Daniel Altmaier (Kempen) and Grand Slam debutant Henri Squire (Duisburg) are already there. Like Koepfer, Yannick Hanfmann (Karlsruhe) was also unable to avoid an early exit against Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo.
Monfils with 122nd victory at Grand Slam tournament
Meanwhile, in the night session match on Court Philippe-Chatrier, crowd favorite Gael Monfils won his opening match.
He beat the Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild 6:2, 3:6, 6:3, 6:4 and celebrated his 122nd match win at a major tournament - more than any French player before him. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga once achieved 121 victories.
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