It was a funny game. Distracting, unusual, disjointed, peppered with nice touches but also gross mistakes. But on arrival, it is the more square, the more regular, the more disciplined of the two who won. On Wednesday, Benjamin Bonzi brought down the No. 28 seed, the fine and whimsical climber Christopher Eubanks, in four sets (7-6 [6]2-6, 6-2, 7-6 [7]). And here is the Nîmes propelled to the third round of a Grand Slam, for the second time in his career, after having reached this stage at the Australian Open at the start of the year.
It is a beautiful story for the 108th in the world, wild-card at Flushing Meadows, who is slowly but brilliantly emerging from the tunnel into which a left wrist injury had plunged him from Monte Carlo last spring. In New York, Bonzi, who was 42nd in the world and even French No. 1 this year, had landed with two small victories in his last ten matches. A rickety confidence mattress to start a Grand Slam. And yet, he will fight on Friday for a place in the round of 16, after having shown a lot of control and accuracy on the very hot points, like these two tie-breaks won with a knife, in the first and fourth. sets.
Dominic Stricker for a place in the round of 16
And when Bonzi was playing on solid and structured bases, this final decisive game in particular, with the judicious external service, the length of the ball that goes well, the smash in control or even this sublime forehand slice defense at 6 points everywhere, Eubanks , he was scattered on two easy volleys, one in uncrossed backhand and one in forehand, which offered the fatal match point.
He is like that the native of Atlanta, recent quarter-finalist at Wimbledon. Capable of a wonderful second set, but also of sending himself a few pretzels at the change of sides in the third, when his stomach was already spinning! Stomach aches that will even force the American to sacrifice the return game at 5-5 in the fourth inning, to run to the toilets and come back fissa on the time of the change of sides, to snatch a decisive game, which does not won’t take you any further in the end.
Bonzi had not beaten a top 30 since his quarter in Marseille in February and his victory (6-2, 6-4) over Alex de Minaur (23rd). The French, posed Wednesday on a remarkable quality of service (19 aces and 80% of points behind his first ball), can now dream even higher. On his way to the third round, it is the Swiss qualifier, Dominic Stricker (128th), astonishing winner of Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday, who stands up in two days. On paper, it doesn’t seem insurmountable.
