|
 Monfils served so quickly in the second set that ball boys barely
had time to get into position after each point before play resumed.
At one stage, television commentators joked that they thought
Monfils was in such a hurry because he had a tee time booked to play
golf.
During one rally, he turned his back on his opponent briefly,
prompting disbelief in the commentary box.
"To not give 100 percent and be so blatant about it, I think it's
disrespectful," two-time U.S. Open champion Tracy Austin said on the
Tennis Channel.
"It looked like exhibition tennis. We've seen that way too many
times with him.
"With Gael, it's so difficult to watch because you know his upside
ceiling could be so big but he just goes away and doesn't even try."
Despite his apparent indifference, Monfils actually had a set point
in the second before succumbing to the big-serving Pole. Monfils'
10th-seeded compatriot Gilles Simon was also sent packing after
losing 6-4 6-7(3) 6-3 to Croatia's Ivo Karlovic, who blasted 35 aces
and outlasted the Frenchman in a long match that was extended by a
rain delay.
In later action, Thanasi Kokkinakis won a three-set battle against
Fabio Fognini 4-6 6-2 6-3 as his tennis did the talking after his
name made controversial headlines last week.
[to top of second column] |
Fellow Australian Nick Kyrgios taunted opponent Stan Wawrinka in a
Rogers Cup match in Montreal that Kokkinakis had slept with the
Swiss player's girlfriend, drawing a fine and the ire of the tennis
world.
Kokkinakis, who himself had a verbal spat with American Ryan
Harrison in qualifying for this event, was critical of his
compatriot's comment.
Other winners on Monday included 13th seed David Goffin along with
Americans Mardy Fish and Jack Sock.
World number one Novak Djokovic, who had a first round bye, will
face Frenchmen Benoit Paire in the second round while Fish takes on
Rogers Cup champion Andy Murray.
Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal also received first round byes.
(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina and Jahmal Corner;
Editing by Greg Stutchbury/John O'Brien)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
