French Open 2023: Emotional Gael Monfils roars back from 0-4, 30-40 in fifth set to book Holger Rune clash

Home favourite Gael Monfils roared back from 0-4, 30-40 in the deciding set to reach the second round of the French Open with a stunning late-night win over Argentina’s Sebastian Baez.

Monfils, 36, was on the brink of an early exit as he stared down a break point on his own serve in the fifth set for 0-5, but saved it before mounting an epic comeback to pull level at 4-4 on Court Philippe-Chatrier.

But the drama was not over. Monfils was broken again to love in the ninth game of the decider, leaving Baez serving for the match, before the Frenchman broke back immediately and won the next two games to complete a 3-6 6-3 7-5 1-6 7-5 victory at 12:18 am local time.

Monfils was overcome with emotion after the handshakes, collapsing to the court and sobbing as the crowd saluted his efforts.

“It’s definitely in my top two [matches]. It was an unbelievable atmosphere as well. Of course this one is another flavour. I’m older, and even less chances, let’s say, to win this match today,” Monfils said.

“It was a great atmosphere tonight, I guess for some spectators as well. I know I have some friends for the first time they came to Roland-Garros, so I think it was a good experience for them.”

Monfils, a semi-finalist at Roland-Garros in 2008, will take on sixth seed Holger Rune in the second round.

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