Tallon Griekspoor got off to a hot start with a flawless service game to open and a strong return game, in which the Dutchman broke Gaël Monfils with a stunning passing shot. Monfils swiftly responded and got back to 2-2 following poor serves from Griekspoor and a stellar service game from the retiring Frenchman.
Monfils continued a strong first set and reached break point on love as Griekspoor was losing the plot, allowing Monfils to go on a 12-1 points run and take a 3-2 lead at record pace. As it looked like Griekspoor had regrouped as he took a 40-0 lead, Monfiels fought back once again and erased the lead with four straight points. The experienced Frenchman prevailed with a superior service game, erasing a staggering eight break points to take a two-game lead.
After Griekspoor levelled the set at four games apiece and Monfils attempted a trademark tweener in the following game, the pair exchanged service games to force a 12-game opening set. Griekspoor struggled with his service, hitting just 50% after 10 games, and reached 20 unforced errors in the eleventh.
The ensuing tiebreak was close to getting wrapped up by Griekspoor, who looked to profit from a late double fault from Monfils, but failed to stay ahead after a failed stop volley. The Dutchman hit his very first ace of the afternoon after his mistake, but squandered a second set point. Another double fault from Monfils helped Griekspoor take the lead again and win the set after 63 minutes.
Monfils takes over
Following a short medical break that Griekspoor requested for his shoulder, Monfils stormed into the lead by winning three consecutive games before giving away his first. La Monf dominated the seconds, leaving Griekspoor in the dust as he dominated the Dutchman in every aspect of the game.
A double fault in his final service game set Griekspoor up for disaster, as Monfils paraded to a 6-1 set lead and forced a deciding third set.
Griekspoor opened the third set similarly to how he played the second and conceded an early break point, but turned his luck around with a couple of strong forehands. The Dutchman was struggling with Monfils' service, scoring just five return points in eleven games between the start of the second set and the 2-2 in the third.
Griekspoor nearly mounts surreal comeback
Monfils took another lead when he broke a flailing Griekspoor, who was closing in on 50 unforced errors, on love to go up 3-2. A stellar forehand set Monfils up to take a 4-2 lead as well, edging him ever so close to becoming the oldest match winner at the Monte Carlo Masters in history.
An overhit forehand earned Monfils a double-break lead over Griekspoor, who mounted one last comeback to break Monfils on love and grab his first break since the first set, after which the Dutchman finally hit a first serve to cut Monfils' lead to just one game. Griekspoor forced another break point as Monfils seemed caught off guard, but had to concede after all, as a mishit earned Monfils a historic win.
With his first-round win 21 years after his debut in Monaco, Gaël Monfils became the oldest match winner in Monte Carlo Masters history.
In his final Monte Carlo Masters, Monfils will face Alexander Bublik in the second round.
Check out the full match statistics on Flashscore
