Medvedev’s loss was Djokovic’s gain

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — So the unvaccinated Serb who isn’t even here because he’s unvaccinated will slip back atop the men’s rankings because the Russian who is here came apart in his match against the Frenchman.

Yes, tennis is very international. And at times quite nonsensical.

At the start of the second week of the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, it was more a case of what didn’t happen than what did.

You like warmth? It was 86 degrees around 3 p.m. Monday.

You like upsets? Gael Monfils came from a set down and beat Daniil Medvedev, 4-6. 6-3, 6-2.

You like familiarity? Our old (relatively speaking) pal Rafael Nadal defeated Dan Evans, 7-5, 6-3, and now has won 17 straight matches and a total of 400 his career.

The ranking system in both men’s and women’s tennis seems part hopscotch, part quantum physics. Sure, victories are the most important element, but it’s also a matter of when and against whom. And don’t take time off for illness or injury, or you’re likely to plummet to where they’ll never find you on the chart.

This was a prelude to deal with Novak Djokovic, who won’t follow procedures in preventing Covid-19, and his opponent, Medvedev.

Novak loves Indian Wells and won it a few times. But he cannot play in the great state of California, as he could not in the great land of Australia because he is adamant about not receiving a vaccination.

That didn’t temporarily displace him from No. 1 in the rankings, Medvedev did. But Medvedev’s loss Monday means Djokovic gets the last laugh by regaining first place.

“He steps up the level a little bit,” Medvedev said, alluding to Monfils. “I couldn’t find it. I’m actually playing a little bit bad, which for me is not a bad thing.

“Yeah. I just couldn't find my rhythm and completely lost it in the third set because, I think actually first match and first set maybe played even a little bit bad, not a bad thing with me. So I think I got a little bit too confident in that, OK? I'm starting to feel my rhythm.

“Maybe should have paid more attention to small details, which, yeah, in the third set is really tough to get it back, and, yeah, it was going easy for him.”

Asked if there was added pressure because of the No. 1 ranking. Medvedev said, “Definitely not pressure. I thought it could give me more motivation, well, I have been motivated. It's just that, yeah, as I say, I didn't find my best tennis. Well, now I know l’m going to lose the No. 1. When I play my best tennis, it’s tough to beat me.”

Monfils, 35, has always been among the game’s most recognized players, agile and quick if not always consistent. A year ago he married Elina Svitolna, one of the top female competitors, and because she is Ukrainian as much in the headlines for her nationality as for her tennis.

He has been around, heard all the questions, given all the answers.

Monfils tried to downplay the win, realizing that at this stage — he beat Nadal 13 years ago — it’s as much a grind as a game.

“It's tough because you guys make it,” Monfils said, meaning the media.

“I make it like a good win, you know? But tough. I played a great player, of course, one of the best players. I just felt good today. Tactically, I was good. I'm full of confidence, of course, so you know, I'm just happy to win this match.”

 As happy as Medvedev was unhappy to lose his — and fall from No. 1.

Monfils knocks out the man who knocked out Nadal

By Art Spander

NEW YORK — It never fails, does it? The person or team that scores the upset, that knocks Duke out of the tournament, knocks Rafael Nadal out of the U.S. Open, never wins the championship. Usually never wins another round.

Which, naturally, was the situation with Lucas Pouille.

On Sunday, Pouille was the new star of tennis, rather than the new hero, because defeating the popular Nadal, as Pouille did, doesn’t necessarily make one a hero.

Villainhood is a greater possibility among the fans and the TV audience hoping to see Nadal.

In Tuesday’s quarterfinal, however, they watched Pouille against Gael Monfils in a match that was one-sided and brief, the 10^th-seeded Monfils defeating Pouille, a fellow Frenchman, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, in just over two hours at Arthur Ashe Stadium. 

Yes, two French in one of the four quarters. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who met No. 1 Novak Djokovic, is another …ooh la la. Sacre bleu! The French can cook and design — and play tennis, unlike Americans. No U.S. male made it out of the fourth round.

The mavens say that in Steve Johnson, winner in Cincinnati two and a half weeks ago; Jack Sock, who was beaten in the Open by Tsonga; and teenagers Francis Tiafoe and Taylor Fritz, the future of U.S, men’s tennis is excellent. We’ll see.

What we see now is that France has depth and, for sure, a semifinalist. Long ago, men’s tennis was as French as the Eiffel Tower. Rene LaCoste (known as the Crocodile, the little reptile he put on the shirts he designed), Jacques Brugnon, Jean Borotra and Henri Cochet won Davis Cups and a total of 18 major singles titles in the 1920s and early 1930s.

They were called the Four Musketeers. In fact, the trophy awarded to the winner of the French Open each year is La Coupe des Mousquetaires — or the Cup of the Musketeers. 

Monfils, 30, is a lone musketeer, a showman who chases balls all over the court and, when he is able, hits them between his legs. He’s been as far as the semis previously in the French. Now he’s done it in the U.S. Open.   

“I drop my racquet," agreed Monfils, “and I do slide. You will say I entertain people, no matter what … Or I do a trick shot and still kill it. You will say I’m a showman. Today I didn’t have the chance to do it, but Lucas hit two tweeners (between the legs). I don’t think you will tell him he tried to entertain.”

Pouille, 22, the No. 24 seed, basically tried to stay in the match. He had played three five-setters, including that match against Nadal, and one four-setter.

“I was a bit tired,” said Pouille after his first Grand Slam quarter. “Yeah, it would have been better if I played a bit less time on court. I did my best today. Gael was playing very good. He’s physically fit. He’s moving so well.”

Monfils attributes that to conditioning and lineage. “I’m very blessed genetically, you know,” said Monfils of his agility and suppleness. “But I am even stronger than before.”

Although it’s no less a business, a way to earn a fine living, tennis to Monfils is also a game. So it was no surprise when, asked if he were having fun, Monfils quickly responded, “Always.”

That, he insisted, is the reason to play.

“No matter what, looks maybe a bit more serious, like everyone mention. But I play tennis because I have fun, because I love the sport. I’m happy where I am now.

“I think I missed a good chance two years ago against Roger (Federer). Now I have a second opportunity to get to my first Slam final.”

Pouille, who had dropped a previous match to Monfils, was not particularly distraught. Monday’s upset lingers in his mind.

“It’s the best win of my career,” he confirmed.

“Now I have a lot of confidence. Even if I lose today, I will leave New York with a lot of confidence for the rest of the year and the next season. Now I know I can be in a quarterfinal again, and maybe more.”

New York. If you can make it here …

Bleacher Report: US Open 2014: Roger Federer Defies Age, Shows Champion's Grit in 5-Set Thriller

By Art Spander
Featured Columnist

NEW YORK — He was down two sets to none, and even Roger Federer thought the end might be near, that he could be knocked out of the U.S. Open, that his chances for that one last Grand Slam had vanished.

Not that he would ever show it on the court.

Read the full story here.

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