Three of the six French people competing on Friday at the Shanghai Masters 1000, Gaël Monfils, Ugo Humbert and Alexandre Müller, qualified for the 3rd round, unlike the “Arthur trio”, Cazaux, Fils and Rinderknech, eliminated.
Gaël Monfils, 46th in the world, won in three sets 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 against the 23-year-old Argentinian and 26th in the world Sebastian Baez.
The French veteran, 38, will play in the next round against another compatriot, Ugo Humbert, seeded N.16.
The French number one, 15th in the world, logically won in two sets 6-3, 6-2 against another Frenchman, Arthur Cazaux, 92nd.
The 26-year-old Messin, who was left with a defeat in the final of the ATP 500 tournament in Tokyo against another Frenchman (Arthur Fils), only needed 1h22 to get rid of his four-year junior, on his first match point, concluded with a forehand into the Montpellier net.
Müller, 74th in the world, managed to beat the Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime, 21st in the world, in two sets 6-3, 6-2. After dismissing the Italian Luca Nardi in the first round, Müller continued in just 1h18 against an opponent who made too many unforced errors (37).
The Arthurs of French tennis, on the other hand, had a dark day.
In addition to Cazaux beaten by Humbert, Rinderknech (60th) logically lost 6-3, 6-2 against the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo (22nd).
Exempted from the first round, Fils, 24th in the world, also lost in two sets 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/5), against the Spaniard Roberto Carballes (54th).
The 20-year-old Essonian, brilliant winner on Tuesday of his second ATP 500 tournament in Tokyo, therefore failed to continue, dominated in the game by his opponent throughout the match.
Despite a strong comeback from Arthur Fils at 4-4 in the second set, the 31-year-old Spaniard was able to make his experience prevail in the decisive game. He will meet the American Ben Shelton, seeded N.14, in the next round.
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