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'How on earth?': Insane point stuns tennis callers

Gael Monfils left commentators and fans gobsmacked after an insane rally in his Rotterdam semi-final win.

A week after falling to Daniil Medvedev in the Sofia Open semi-finals, Monfils’s relentless court coverage proved the difference as he gained revenge over the Russian with a 4-6 6-3 6-4 win.

Monfils almost brought the house down at one stage after winning an epic 24-shot rally.

Medvedev forced his 32-year-old opponent out wide on numerous occasions during the baseline slug fest, but it was a stunning backhand cross-court winner from the French star that finally settled the point.

“You have got to be kidding me,” the commentator exclaimed.

“This is torturous stuff from both. How on earth did Monfils pull off that backhand?”

Monfils pulled out some incredible shots in his semi-final win. Pic: Getty
Monfils pulled out some incredible shots in his semi-final win. Pic: Getty

Monfils finished with 29 winners to move one step away from a first title since lifting the Qatar Open title in January last year.

He’ll play Stan Wawrinka in the final after the Swiss ace battled past top seed Kei Nishikori 6-2 4-6 6-4 in their semi-final.

Fifth seed Medvedev, who won the Sofia Open last week, struggled to land his forehands in the final set as he conceded a decisive break of serve in the ninth game of the final set.

“Tactically I think I played good and physically I was tough, I was happy that I could handle it physically,” said Monfils.

“My game plan was definitely to make him play a lot of balls and at the end I think it paid off. I was very happy because I kept the aggressive spirit at the end and I think that is why I won today.”

Three-time grand slam champion Wawrinka, who reached his first final since undergoing two knee surgeries in 2017, fired 35 winners, including eight aces to triumph over Nishikori in just over two hours.

In an intense final set, both players held serve with relative ease until the 10th game when Wawrinka fired two scorching forehands to convert a break point and book a place in Sunday’s final.

With agencies