Monfils Reaches Rotterdam Final for First Time

Gael Monfils only has one goal this week during the 43^rd ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament and that’s winning the Wim Buitendijk Trophy. After his win straight sets over Philipp Kohlschreiber (6-3, 6-2), the fifth-seeded Frenchman is just one victory away from completing his mission.
The 29-year-old Monfils is known for his powerful and sometimes inimitable strokes, but in Rotterdam Ahoy the showman has mainly displayed his clinical side.
“The result makes it look like it was quick and easy, but it really wasn’t. In the first set, the difference was made by one break. After that, everything fell into place.”

Martin Klizan will await Monfils in Sunday’s final. “Martin has shown that’s he’s a real fighter,” the Frenchman said after his own match. “Klizan has survived a lot of match points. It's never easy against him, because he always gives his all. I know that I need to limit my mistakes as much as possible in the final.”
Monfils didn’t do great in ATP World Tour finals so far, but the fact that he knows why, makes him stronger. “Especially during the first years of my career, it was almost impossible to win a final, as I faced some world class players like Roger Federer, Ivan Ljubicic and Andy Roddick. I’ve had my chances in several finals but at those moment it just happened to be that my the opponent was better. I still have time to watch Klizan’s matches iva social media, so I’ll make sure I’ll be prepared for tomorrow.”
The final between Monfils and Klizan will start 15.30 local time on Sunday.

Source: ATP Rotterdam