Monfils Goes Back-To-Back, Claims Second Rotterdam Title

Gael Monfils won back-to-back ATP Tour titles for the first time in his career on Sunday, beating Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 6-4 at the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.

Adding to his record-tying third title run at last week’s Open Sud de France in Montpellier, the World No. 9 broke serve on four occasions to lift his second straight trophy at the opening ATP 500 event of the year. Monfils improves to 14-1 in Rotterdam since 2016, having also reached the championship match in 2016.

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The 33-year-old becomes the first player since Robin Soderling in 2011 to win consecutive titles at the Rotterdam Ahoy. This is the first time that Monfils has captured multiple ATP Tour crowns in a single season. With his ninth straight victory, the 10-time tour-level titlist has now won seven trophies on indoor hard courts.

Monfils played with patience from the baseline and attacked Auger-Aliassime’s forehand in key moments to extract errors. After failing to convert three break points at 1-1, Monfils charged up the court two games later and got the better of his opponent in a net exchange to earn the first break of the match.

The Frenchman doubled his advantage at 4-2, with Auger-Aliassime struggling to find the court on his forehand. Monfils served out the set on his first set point with a powerful serve up the T. Throughout the 39-minute opener, Auger-Aliassime committed 12 unforced forehand errors.

The forehand errors continued to flow from Auger-Aliassime’s racquet in the second set, with Monfils breaking to love in the opening game. The Frenchman showcased great reaction skills en route to a double-break advantage and, despite dropping serve at 5-2, clinched the title with an accurate serve out wide.

This is the first time since 1998 that one nation has sweeped the singles and doubles trophies in Rotterdam. The all-French team of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut triumphed in the doubles final. France is the fifth nation to achieve the feat, joining the United States, Sweden, Germany and the Netherlands in the exclusive club.

Competing as the youngest finalist in tournament history, Auger-Aliassime was aiming to capture his first ATP Tour crown in his fourth final. Auger-Aliassime dropped only one set en route to the final, scoring victories against Jan-Lennard Struff, Grigor Dimitrov, Aljaz Bedene and Pablo Carreno Busta to become the first Canadian to reach the championship match in Rotterdam.

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