Gael Monfils came back from one set down to beat Cameron Norrie 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 after 3 hours and 12 minutes in a hard-fought match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Norrie broke Monfils’ serve point on his sixth break point in the first game of the opening set. The British player did not convert any of his nine break points in Monfils’ second service game. Monfils broke back in the sixth game to draw level to 3-3.
Norrie earned his 20th break point of the match at 5-5 after Monfils made his fourth double fault. The British player converted his fifth break point to take a 6-5 lead after Monfils made his sixth double fault. Monfils, who fended off 18 of the 20 break points he faced in the first set, pulled the break back for the second time on his third break point, as Norrie was serving for the set in the 12th game. Norrie went up a mini-break twice in the tie-break, but Monfils pulled back on serve to draw level to 3-3. Norrie won three consecutive points from 3-4 to take a 6-4 earning two set points. Monfils saved the first set point, but Norrie sealed the tie-break with his fourth mini-break.
Norrie earned an early break in the second game after a double fault from Monfils to open up a 3-0 lead, but Monfils broke back in the fifth game, when Norrie hit a volley long. Both players exchanged holds en route to another tie-break. Monfils went up a mini-break twice, but Norrie pulled back on serve. Monfils edged Norrie with his third mini-break on the 12thpoint.
Monfils earned the decisive break in the eighth game to take a 5-3 lead before serving out the match to love to complete the come-back.
Monfils set up a fourth round match against Casper Ruud.
“I feel better and better, to be honest, which has been a long time I am able to do that. I feel good. So far the body is holding, so I am happy with that”, said Monfils.
Norrie struggled with illness following his previous tournament in Rio de Janeiro last February.
“It was pretty gutting to lose it having so many chances, but I think looking back, five or six days ago I probably wasn’t even going to play the tournament so it’s nice to be feeling healthy again. I actually felt good out there. Physically in the third set I was not as good as the start of the match, and I think it was a small difference”, said Norrie.
