Shanghai 2018: When Monfils First Challenged the Young Tsitsipas in an Electrifying Match
On October 8, 2018, in Shanghai, at the heart of the Qizhong Forest Arena, Gaël Monfils and Stefanos Tsitsipas engaged in a thrilling duel that kept the audience on the edge of their seats for over two hours. After a suspenseful match, the Frenchman fell short 7‑6(4), 4‑6, 6‑4, having flirted with victory until the very last moments.
In the first set, the tension was palpable. Tsitsipas, the 10th seed, gained the upper hand after winning a tie-break 7-4. With the pressure easing, the second set allowed Monfils to showcase his best form. He managed to break his opponent and used that momentum to level the match at one set apiece.
The final set, however, was the peak of suspense. Neither player could pull away for long. Nevertheless, after 2 hours and 21 minutes of battle, the Frenchman had to concede defeat to the victorious Greek, who advanced to the second round.
Although Tsitsipas won the first encounter against his elder, the score turned in Monfils' favor the following year in Sofia (quarterfinals: 6-3, 7-6). Currently, the two players are tied in their head-to-head record.
