Monfils loses after a superb battle with Ruud!
Gael Monfils will not be playing in the quarter-finals at Indian Wells. Back in top form, the French showman came up against a stronger opponent on Wednesday. Casper Ruud, also back to his best, prevailed after a thrilling battle lasting 2 hours 27 minutes and three sets (3/6, 7/6, 6/4).
Monfils initially took control of the match in the first hour, winning the first set and dominating the early stages of the second. But Ruud, apparently fresher physically, gradually reversed the momentum, winning the tie-break to take the second set. In the third, the Norwegian took even clearer control of the game, and a break in the 3rd game was enough for him to win the set and the match.
In the quarters, Ruud will face the winner of the duel between Lucas Nardi, who beat Novak Djokovic in the 3rd round, and Tommy Paul, who beat Ugo Humbert in the previous round.
