Simon wins 71-shot rally, then match

Australian Open | Comments

What happens when you pit two defensive counterpunchers on court with the fourth round of a Slam on the line? Well if it’s Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils, two Frenchmen who have a history of forcing each other into metronomically long rallies, you get yourself a 71-shot rally that actually isn’t as exciting as it sounds. The two traded rally balls for over a minute and a half before Simon finally pulled the trigger on a flat forehand cross court that eventually won him the point. The rally left both men exhausted but it was indicative of the match itself, which an injured Simon miraculously won 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 1-6, 8-6. The fact that Monfils lost this match against an injured opponent when he looked well on his way to victory is everything you need to know about the Exasperating Case of Gael Monfils. Unbelievable.

thanks twitter for all your messages it was a tough match, unfortunately i didn't make it but it gives me more belief for my comeback…—
Gael Monfils (@Gael_Monfils) January 19, 2013

Two nights ago Petra Kvitova and Laura Robson played an error strewn match that was the epitome of pure offensive tennis gone wrong, a match that Robson won 11-9 in the third amidst high drama but wonting tennis. Saturday night saw the opposite, with Simon and Monfils content to rally for hours despite both suffering from injuries throughout the match (Simon had a knee and elbow injury that forced him to spin in 75mph serves) and playing some of the most frustrating tennis to watch of the tournament. Again, there was drama and intrigue in the same way that the worst reality television can be must-watch TV.

Both men are at their best when playing against more offensive minded players who give them something to react to. Take that away and you get neverending hitting sessions. In addition to the 71-shot rally there were two more of 47-shots and more than two dozen that exceeded 20 shots. By the end, both players were staggering between points and eating chocolate bars and drinking Coke on changeovers.

If you're looking for Sparta, it's over at Hisense Arena. #ausopen—
Beyond The Baseline (@SI_BTBaseline) January 19, 2013

Amazing feat of modern tennis? Or ugly battle of attrition? Not even the tennis players watching the match from the comfortable confines of their hotel rooms could decide. While Caroline Wozniacki and Milos Raonic found the match “unbelievable” and riveting, retired pros Goran Ivanisevic and Ivan Ljubicic suggested the combatants should be arrested for their frustrating display of tennis. Consider me on team Ivanisevic.

Here are some of the best tweets from the night:

Tune in to Hisense Arena right now if you want to see what it looks like when one guy can't move and the other guy can't hit. #ausopen—
Beyond The Baseline (@SI_BTBaseline) January 19, 2013

Anyone watching Monfils vs Simon @AustralianOpen now? 71 shot rally… Practicing some backhand cross courts?? Haha—
Sabine Lisicki (@sabinelisicki) January 19, 2013

Watching Monfils v Simon.One has a leg problem and can't run much or serve and the other has a hand problem and can't serve or play forehand—
Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) January 19, 2013

This is unbelievable!! These two guys a battling it out out there… Unbelievable tennis!—
Caroline Wozniacki (@CaroWozniacki) January 19, 2013

#Ivanisevic who is playing after these two just wrote me: " this two should be arrested after the match" ))—
Ivan Ljubicic (@theljubicic) January 19, 2013

Someone watching @gael_monfills and Simon's match???What a battle!!!—
galo blanco (@galo_blanco) January 19, 2013

My, my, my…what a match…gooooo Gaeeeeeeeeeeel!—
Andrea Petkovic (@andreapetkovic) January 19, 2013

@Gael_Monfils and #GilleSimon killing each other on court now. Both are pushing to new limits. Great to watch! #AO2013—
Milos Raonic (@milosraonic) January 19, 2013

oh my god its a marathon—
Svetlana Kuznetsova (@SvetlanaK27) January 19, 2013

I don’t want this match to end. And it keeps going!—
Milos Raonic (@milosraonic) January 19, 2013

Monfils vs Simon… The funniest men's tennis I've seeing … Forehand slice from Monfils and 130km/h serve from Simon… Keep it going—
Anastasia Rodionova (@arodionova) January 19, 2013

i think that the neck of umpire will fall off after this rallys—
Svetlana Kuznetsova (@SvetlanaK27) January 19, 2013

What a match..Monfils Simon…Every rally going forever!!!—
Elena Vesnina (@EVesnina001) January 19, 2013

It's a must see match!!!!!! instagr.am/p/Uqq9jXGQIT/—
D.Safina27 (@Dinarik27) January 19, 2013

i feel that i will wake up and see this match will be still on—
Svetlana Kuznetsova (@SvetlanaK27) January 19, 2013

If I actually analyse it a bit, I understand even more that i dont understand—
Ivan Ljubicic (@theljubicic) January 19, 2013

What the hell is up with this match between Monfils and Simon??? Weirdest match I've ever seen!—
Bethanie MattekSands (@BMATTEK) January 19, 2013

gael just throwing sports science out the window and is drinking coke at the changeover! #toogood—
oliver golding (@oli_golding) January 19, 2013

This match is breaking my heart…. They r both winners!!!—
D.Safina27 (@Dinarik27) January 19, 2013

According to Eurosport, Gilles Simon asked James Keothavong for a chocolate bar. I don't know. #ausopen—
Beyond The Baseline (@SI_BTBaseline) January 19, 2013