Cruel first experience in the final for Benjamin Bonzi: the Frenchman led 6-4, 5-4, then fought for 2h16 before giving in on Tallon Griekspoor (95e world) during a final of very good quality.
Diligent, sure of his areas, not particularly caught up in the event, the Frenchman ended up losing against a Dutchman with a touch more ambitious in his attacks and better in service, he who only lost his start twice. game during this tournament (17 aces in the final, 71% of first serve, 79% of points won on the first ball).
Even if he will not be French No. 1 in the next French ranking (which would have assured him a victory in the final), Bonzi will have had a very encouraging week with victories over Chun-Hsin Tseng, Emil Ruusuvuori, Filip Krajinovic and Botic van de Zandschulp. And if the scenario of this final resembles the three defeats on a thread in the Davis Cup last year in the qualifying round against De Minaur, Goffin and Struff, the 26-year-old Frenchman, slowly maturing, can always tell himself that he it’s always easier to sort out the final details.
The first round is very tight between the two men. At 4-4, Bonzi was the first to see a slight threat, trailing 15-30 on his serve before handling the situation with an ace. And at 5-4 against him, when he had won 100% of points on his first balls, the Dutchman frayed at the worst of times on his serve by committing two double faults, one of which on a ball set right after the Frenchman knocked him out with an impeccable backhand counter.
Wasted chances in the second set
On his way, Bonzi managed to lead twice 0-30 on opposing service at the start of the second set, without succeeding in concretizing. And it was he who ended up cracking up. A first time at 3-3, where he saves two break points on two aces. And at 5-5, when he finally let go after a long, very lively game, on a lob from Griekspoor breaking for the first time in this final.
And if Bonzi got a 6-6 ball (saved by an ace), it was the very determined Dutchman who managed to take the set with a remarkable forehand attack. Broken very early in the last set on a double fault, Bonzi got two balls to come back to 3-3. But Griekspoor, very enterprising, saved them and finished stronger, while Bonzi let go on a last bad service game.
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