Black Tennis Pros

As was the case against world no. 1 Roger Federer at the Sony Ericsson Open in Miami, Frenchman Gael Monfils was not able to prevail in his match today at the Monte Carlo Masters Series Tournament. Monfils lost to Federer 6-3, 6-4.

After being just two points away from defeat against world number 137 Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo in the second round, Federer stepped up his game against Monfils. He dropped serve just once on the single break point he faced in the match and won 81 percent of points on his second serve. Federer, who last week won his first title of the year in Estoril under the watchful eye of new coach Jose Higueras, is now on a seven-match clay-court winning streak.

Monfils said poor decisions proved costly. "I started off well. I was aggressive and then, I don't know, I changed," the Frenchman said. I was watching him playing instead of staying aggressive or very dynamic... I was trying too much to run around my backhand and playing forehands instead of staying more simple and using my backhand. This opened wide angles for him, and it was easier."