Wimbledon: Fucsovics halts Monfils’ marathon magic, moves into third round
Lucky loser Marton Fucsovics defeated Gael Monfils 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 on Friday at the Wimbledon Championships 2025
Marton Fucsovics at Wimbledon | © Action Plus / Psnewz
Hungarian lucky loser Marton Fucsovics defeated Gael Monfils 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 on Friday in the second round of the Wimbledon Championships 2025.
Fucsovics won the opening set with a solitary break, in the seventh game, after Monfils saved two set points. He, however, found himself reeling till the ninth game of the fourth set as the Frenchman had recovered by taking two sets and was up a break.
The Hungarian converted a break point in the tenth and later won the set in a tiebreak to draw level. He stepped up early in the decider and broke Monfils in the fifth game to later hold his remaining serves and book his spot in the third round at SW19.
The two players toiled hard on the grass for three hours, 47 minutes, as Fucsovics hit 46 winners to his opponent’s 36. Monfils fared better in other departments, averaging 67 percent on the first-serve points and 47 on the second against the Hungarian’s 65 and 44. Also, he committed 54 unforced errors, 23 less than the eventual winner, but couldn’t cross the finish line.
This was Monfils’ first five-set defeat of the season. He won his previous three marathons in the first round of the three Grand Slams of this year. “He played better than me, that’s for sure”, Monfils commented about his serving for the match on Thursday. You know, he went for his shot. He was a little bit fortunate on one or two shots.He played tough. You know, credit to him.”
“I think today didn’t serve much better”, Monfils added. “My return was really poor. I couldn’t really return good. I strike the ball poorly today. In a way different condition with the windy side, with the sun. I couldn’t adapt myself as quick that he did.”
Of course, one set on grass is very quick. So credit to him. He was better than me.
Fucsovics will next play American Ben Shelton, the No 10 seed, for a place in the fourth round.
