Gael Monfils came back from one set down to beat Marton Fucsovics 2-6 7-5 6-2 in the first round to reach the quarter final at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockolm. Fucsovics broke twice in the first and fifth games to win the opening set 6-2.
Monfils earned two breaks in the sixth and eighth games to close out the second set 6-2 forcing the match to the third set.
Monfils broke serve in the fourth game of the third set to take a 3-1 lead. Kecmanovic broke straight back in the fifth game and held on his serve to draw level to 3-3.
Monfils saved two break points to hold serve for 4-3. Fucsovics fended off two match points at 4-5, but Monfils closed out the third set with a break in the final game.
“I was very happy. Marton is a very good player. He is a very tricky opponent. I had just to believe that I am going to win and try to stay positive and play my game”, said Monfils.
Miomir Kecmanovic beat Holger Rune 7-6 (7-3) 6-2. Kecmanovic fired 19 winners to 5 unforced errors and converted all three of his break points in the second set after missing out on five opportunities in the first set.
Rune saved five break points to hold serve after six deuces. Both players went on serve en route to the tie-break, which Kecmanovic won 7-2 with two mini-breaks.
Rune hit a return winner to break in the opening game of the second set but he was immediately broken back. Kecmanovic broke twice in the sixth and eighth game to close out the second set 6-2.
Kecmanovic dealt Rune his second opening round defeat in as many weeks. The Serbian player broke an 11-match losing streak against top 10 opponents. He had not beaten a top 10 opponent since his win against Felix Auger Aliassime in Miami 2022.
Rune is currently eighth in the ATP Live race to Turin, but his position is under threat from Taylor Fritz, who Is bidding to defend his title in Tokyo.
Tallon Griekspoor beat Emil Ruusuvuori 7-6 (7-3) 6-4. Ruusuvuori earned an early break in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead. Griekspoor broke back in the seventh game and held on his serve to draw level to 4-4. Both players held on their service games en route to the tie-break. Griekspoor earned two mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-3. The second set went on serve until the 10th game when Griekspoor eraned the decisive break to seal the win.
Griekspoor set up a match against Pavel Kotov, who beat Lorenzo Sonego 6-4 7-5. Kotov earned a break in the first game to win the first set 6-4. Kotov went up a break twice, but Sonego broke straight back both time to draw level to 5-5. Kotov broke for the third time to close out the third set 7-5.
Laslo Djere beat JJ Wolf 7-5 6-4. Djere broke serve in the fifth game to take a 3-2 lead. Wolf broke back to draw level to 5-5. Djere broke again in the 11th game to close out the first set 7-5. Wolf broke serve in the second game to open up a 3-1 lead. Djere won five consecutive games thanks to two breaks to win the second set 7-5.
