(Indian Wells) Gaël Monfils, with nerve and panache, offered himself an astonishing success at the expense of world No.1 Daniil Medvedev, who will no longer be next Monday, to advance in 8^and Indian Wells Masters 1000 final.

In the process, Rafael Nadal passed without incident his 3^and round against the Briton Daniel Evans, thus remaining the last big favorite of the event.

Before arriving in California, the Frenchman (N.26) had not played for five weeks, flattened by a “mysterious” illness, according to him. But that was not seen.

Because if the earth shook very slightly near Indian Wells – at 3.1 on the Richter scale -, Monfils was at the epicenter of another slight earthquake in the tournament, leaving the Russian 4- 6, 6-3, 6-1.

“It was great. I feel good, I feel strong. I’m pretty happy right now,” he said.

Medvedev hoped to finally pass the milestone of 8^and for its fifth participation. He will still have to wait. And in this Californian desert which does not succeed for him, this failure is coupled with the assured loss of his place as world N.1, in favor of Novak Djokovic, absent, because not vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Monfils show

His first set, however, gave a glimpse, not a walk in the park, but a better outcome than defeat. Well settled in defense, he waited for Monfils to crack at 9^and game, with four consecutive unforced errors (including two double faults), to then conclude with another shutout.

But the Parisian continued to bravely play his luck, increasing in intensity in the second set, while changing the pace with volleys, drop shots and even underarm serves.

The second, on a set point, pushed the Russian to the fault, for the equalizer. And the public, admirers of the Frenchie provider of “showtime”, to exult, after having laughed, too, seeing him test the sensitivity of the top of the net with the end of the racket which had just sounded “let” to cancel an ace.

Monfils continued to take the lead in the third set. In an inverted dynamic, his rival, guilty of yet another unforced error, smashed his racket to the ground.

And the Frenchman never loosened the vice, playing fair and strong when necessary, to offer himself on his 6^and match point, the second victory of his career over a world N.1 after that won in 2009 against Rafael Nadal.

Quiet like Nadal

“I managed to stick to my tactical plan from start to finish. I moved well, I made changes of pace at the right times. And then, I have the impression that it smiled at me, ”he explained.

He will have to quickly evacuate any feeling of euphoria, because in 8^and awaits the great Spanish hope Carlos Alcaraz (N.19), who crushed 6-2, 6-0 Roberto Bautista (N.15).

The other Frenchman, Benjamin Bonzi (62^and world), came close to the feat against Jannick Sinner (N.10), defeated 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 6-4 in 2 h 38. The Italian will challenge the Australian Nick Kyrgios.

Earlier, in peace, Rafael Nadal (N.4), won his 17^and straight win in 2022, at the expense of Briton Daniel Evans (7-5, 6-3).

The Spaniard did not need a “comeback” this time, as in the previous round against the American Sebastian Korda. Led 3-1, he quickly broke to win 5 of the last 6 games of the set.

Whereupon, the record holder for the number of Grand Slam victories (21) since his coronation at the Australian Open, continued, immediately taking the opposing service to escape 3-0 and win in 1:42. He will be opposed to the next all to the American Reilly Opelka (N.17).

Finally, the other surprise of the day came from the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (N.5) released by the American Jenson Brooksby 1-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Among the women, note the qualifications of the Spanish defending champion Paola Badosa (N.5) who will face the Canadian Leylah Fernandez, finalist of the last US Open, and the Greek Maria Sakkari (N.6).

The Estonian Anett Kontaveit (N.4) was however eliminated, as was my Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, double winner (2012, 2013), who burst into tears during the match without explanation.