The tennis is clean, the shots come out well, the legs respond with enthusiasm and precision, and yet Benjamin Bonzi lacked a bit to tickle Alex De Minaur a little harder on Saturday in the third round of the French Open. ‘Australia. The last Frenchman in the running had to admit defeat after 2:08 of a match that was not too grueling for the Australian (7-6 [0]6-2, 6-1).
In discovery mode on the Rod Laver Arena, Bonzi gave up his entry service, before recovering immediately to come back from 0-2 to 2-2. In a first round where he had to serve twice as much as his opponent, as the games were disputed on his commitments and fast on those of his opponent, he gave the impression that he was going to be able to falter the hero of the Central when he came back a second time, going from 3-5 to 6-5, saving two set points.
A big set and then go
After an hour of close play, where ground cover was tested up and down on both sides, it was time for a decisive game. Or rather a deceptive game. The 48th in the world is indeed passed through a tie-break full of unforced errors and lost without saving the slightest point, on an ace to the T of De Minaur.
The rest of the match was almost entirely to the advantage of the Australian, who thus reached the round of 16 of “his” Grand Slam for the second year in a row. Last year, he lost in the round of 16 to Jannik Sinner (7-6, 6-3, 6-4). This time he will challenge Grigor Dimitrov or Novak Djokovic.
Benjamin Bonzi, who was the last French male representative on the court, will leave Australia with the consolation of wearing the national number one bib, around 42nd place in the world. His first appearance in the second week of a Grand Slam tournament will have to wait a little longer.
