Gael Monfils was fighting to break his six-match losing streak in the first round of the Australian Open 2021. However, unseeded Emil Ruusuvuori stopped the Frenchman from breaking his embarrassing streak as the former defeated Monfils in a thrilling five-setter 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in 3 hours and 50 minutes on the opening day of the Australian Open 2021.

Monfils has not won a match since his victory over compatriot Richard Gasquet at the Dubai Championships 2020 in February.

Gael Monfils went off with a comfortable start

Monfils broke his opponent thrice while he was broken only once to take the opening set 6-3. However, the Finnish star who has been ranked as high as world No.4 in the ITF juniors ranking broke Monfils in the first game of the second set. The set saw no breaks with Emil equalizing the match at 1-1.

The third set looked like the replication of the second set as Emil broke Monfils again in the very first game. However, Gael fought back to break Emil twice to serve for the set at 5-4. To everyone’s surprise, the Frenchman was broken back twice with Emil taking the third set.

Monfils strikes back in the fourth

Gael saved three breakpoints in the first game of the fourth set to hold his serve for the crucial game. He then came back into the match after breaking Emil once and winning the fourth set 6-3, taking the match to the distance.

Alas, Monfils did not look solid in the final set as he was broken in the fourth game. The Frenchman’s poor run of form continued as he lost the final set 6-3. Emil will face either Yoshihito Nishioka or Pedro Martinez in the Second Round of Australian Open 2021.

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In another thrilling five-set match, home star John Millman was outclassed by Frenchman Corentin Moutet, who advanced to the next round winning the opening match 6-4, 6-7, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.