PARIS, 2 November 2004 — French superkid Gael Monfils spectacularly lifted the gloom at the 2.45-million-euro Paris Masters yesterday by battling back to defeat former champion Thomas Enqvist 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 and book a second round clash against second seed Lleyton Hewitt.
The 18-year-old Monfils, who won the Australian and French Open as well as Wimbledon junior title this year, was just 10 years old when the experienced Swede lifted the trophy here in 1996.
But yesterday, after suffering severe stage fright in a brutally one-sided first set, he launched a blistering display of uninhibited tennis to eventually wear down the 30-year-old holder of 19 career titles in six minutes short of two hours.
Monfils, who came through the qualifying tournament, played a huge role in lifting the gloom after organizers had reacted furiously to the news that former world number one Andre Agassi had become the latest big name to skip the event through injury.
The American veteran, twice a champion here and seeded five, told organizers that he had injured his right hip while Argentina’s David Nalbandian, the eighth seed, also pulled out citing a knee injury. World No. 1 Roger Federer, former French Open champions Carlos Moya and Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain and world number five Guillermo Coria of Argentina all pulled out last week.
Such is the concern that the directors of the five European Masters tournaments will meet here today to discuss the problem with many event organizers demanding financial penalties be introduced.
Coria, who hasn’t played since July, also books a place in the eight-man lineup in Texas along with Federer, Andy Roddick, Hewitt, Moya and French Open winner Gaston Gaudio.
Federer withdrew from Paris last week with a thigh injury while Moya has failed to recover from a right shoulder injury.
Monfils was a quarterfinalist in Metz two weeks ago as he made his Tour debut but in the early stages of yesterday’s match, he looked to be heading for a quick exit.
Enqvist raced through the first set in just 24 minutes blitzing the jewelry-bedecked French teenager but Monfils, with the shackles lifted, began to play without fear as his punishing groundstrokes and willingness to improvise paid huge dividends.
He leveled the contest after 67 minutes by taking the second set and could even afford to squander two match points in the eighth game of the decider.
Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan, saw off Argentina’s Mariano Zabaleta 7-6 (7 3), 6-4 to book a second clash with third seed Henman.
There were also wins for Mardy Fish of the United States, Belarus’ Max Mirnyi, Sweden’s Robin Soderling, Belgium’s Christophe Rochus and Frenchman Cyril Saulnier.
