• ATP

Del Potro too classy for Monfils in Rotterdam

ESPN staff
February 12, 2013
Juan Martin Del Potro broke in either set against Gael Monfils © PA Photos
Enlarge

Number two seed Juan Martin Del Potro overcame a tough first-round test in the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament on Tuesday, beating Gael Monfils in straight sets.

Del Potro, who saw Jo-Wilfried Tsonga stunned by Igor Sijsling 24 hours earlier, faced a willing runner in Monfils who proved a nuisance at the back of the court. However, the Argentine advanced in a 6-3 6-4 victory.

A break arrived early in the contest for Del Potro, who smeared his trademark forehand from the baseline for a series of early winners. That breakthrough allowed him to serve for the first set, at which point he had to defend a chance on his own serve before sealing a 6-3 advantage.

Monfils attempted to dictate matters a little more in the second but once again saw his own delivery penetrated as Del Potro showed a clinical nature to his game. The second seed eventually closed out the match in 71 minutes.

Elsewhere on Tuesday, Thiemo De Bakker advanced at the expense of Mikhail Youzhny, who retired deep into the third set. The score was 3-6 7-6(2) 4-1 in De Bakker's favour at the time of the withdrawal.

Qualifier Ernests Gulbis thrashed Robin Haase 6-2 6-1, and there was also a straight sets victory for Julien Benneteau over Tobias Kamke.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices