Monfils, Santoro Put On Show at ATP MetzPosted on October 5, 2005 The French put on a show for the home crowd Tuesday at the ATP stop in Metz, with winners (6) Gael Monfils (d. Chela 7-6 in the third), unseeded Fabrice "The Original Magician" Santoro (d. Melzer from a set down), and unseeded Michael Llodra (d. countryman (Q) Simon, bagel in the second) into the second round.
"Although I won against him not too long ago, at the US Open last month, I was really cautious about this match, and I was right because today it hasn't been easy," said Santoro on the three-setter against Melzer. "I don't think I played a bad first set. He played really well, he was aggressive, took the opportunity to take my serve and kept the lead." The embattled Llodra hopes his win is a sign of better things to come. "I had a rough summer, was injured, sick a couple of times," Llodra said. "I haven't been able to play much lately. Today I think I played a convincing match. It's a great way to get into the tournament, winning a match is already great but winning playing well is even better." Other unseeded winners Tuesday were Romanian Andrei Pavel (d. (7) Sanguinetti from a set down), Italy's Andreas Seppi (d. Sabau), German Florian Mayer (d. El Aynaoui from a set down), and wildcard Mark Philippoussis (d. Behrend in three), with the Aussie getting his first win in his last five matches. Scheduled for Wednesday are Mayer vs. (4) Hrbaty, Andreev vs. Mathieu, (WC) Clement vs. (Q) Summerer, an all-French doubles in (1) Llodra/Santoro vs. Mathieu/Monfils, Calleri vs. (WC) Philippoussis, Beck vs. (2) Gasquet, and (Q) Schukin vs. (Q) Luczak. |
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