Gael Monfils defeats Thiem for the first time in Mallorca | ATP Tour

Mallorca

Monfils defeats Thiem for the first time in Mallorca

Munar and Martínez could not win in their home debut

June 24, 2024

Gael Monfils and Dominic Thiem starred in this Monday’s stellar duel at the Mallorca Championships presented by waterdrop, which went to the Frenchman’s side 6-3, 7-6(3), after one hour and 18 minutes of play.

Until this Monday, Monfils had a record of 0-6 in the Lexus ATP Head2Head against Thiem, with whom he maintained a rivalry that began almost ten years ago in Umag 2015. But the first duel between the two on grass ended on the side from French.

“It was my first match on grass in three years and I felt like I had to serve well and be aggressive against Dominic,” Monfils warned. “The weather is good, the stadium was full and I really like the atmosphere here. Now I will try to win again. “It would be great to win two games in a row.”

The No. 40 in the PIF ATP Rankings returned to play a match on the surface for the first time since Wimbledon 2021, where he advanced to the second round (l. to Pedro Martínez).

This time, the player born in Paris 37 years ago connected 13 aces and secured 90% of the points with his first serve (35/39) to make his way into the second round, where the Spanish Roberto Carballés Baena awaits him.

For his part, Thiem said goodbye to the public in a brief ceremony after the match. “I have been here many times before the tournament and twice for the tournament and it has been great,” acknowledged the Austrian, who retires in 2024. “I look forward to returning to this beautiful club to watch the tournament in the future.”

The rest of the local players who debuted their participation in this 2024 edition in the ATP 250 on grass could not accompany Carballés Baena and Roberto Bautista Agut, who had already obtained their ticket previously.

Jaume Munar saw how Sebastian Ofner was able to turn the match around, which he started by winning 3-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) in two hours and four minutes.

While Pedro Martínez could not beat the No. 5 seed Luciano Darderi 7-5, 7-5 for one hour and 58 minutes. The Italian awaits Ofner in the second round.

Finally, No. 4 seed Alejandro Tabilo met his first opponent in the tournament, after Alexander Shevchenko defeated French qualifier Constant Lestienne 7-5, 7-6(5).