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June 12, 2013

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Monfils uses an array of shots to upset Raonic

DISPLAYING new dreadlocks and old shot-making, Gael Monfils beat fifth-seeded Milos Raonic 6-4, 6-2 in the first round of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany, yesterday to boost his comeback from injury.

In the upset of the day, Mirza Basic, a lucky loser from qualifying playing his first main-draw match on the ATP Tour, stunned seventh-seeded Jerzy Janowicz 7-6 (5), 3-6, 7-6 (5).

Monfils broke serve for 2-1 and never looked back in his match. He also went up a break at the start of the second set. Hard-serving Raonic put some pressure on Monfils in the final game, but Monfils hit a drop shot followed with a lob, and served out the match with an ace. The two points at the end illustrated Monfils' soft touch and his booming serve.

Once ranked as high as No. 7 in the world, Monfils missed several months in 2012 because of a knee injury. The Frenchman was ranked No. 119 one month ago, but has jumped to No. 67.

In other first-round matches, Tobias Kamke beat Lukasz Kubot 6-4, 6-0 and Cedrik-Marcel Stebe defeated qualifier Jimmy Wang of Chinese Taipei 6-2, 6-4.

 

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