In his first match at Wimbledon since 2013, Juan Monaco, currently ranked 35th in the world, squared off against Florian Mayer, a former top-20 player who now sits below the 200 best players on tour. Despite facing an opponent whose game fits the grass best and trailing in their personal head-to-head, Monaco advanced in three sets, with a 6/1, 6/2, 6/4 scoreline.
Monaco’s unexpected dominance was in display early in the first set. After holding the first game of the match at love, the Argentine reversed a 40-0 advantage in Mayer’s first service game, forcing a couple of break-points and converting the second. The third game saw Monaco himself facing adversity as he had to save two break points before consolidating the lead.
Pico, as he is known among his peers and fans, also forced two more opportunities to win the game on his opponent’s serve in the fourth game, which he converted, jumping to an 4/0, double break lead. The fifth game saw another demonstration of Monaco’s strength, as he rebounded from a love-40 deficit to hold for 5/0. Despite avoiding the bagel in his final service game of the set, Monaco held from 30 to clinch the first frame, 6/1 – a set on which he had fewer break-points (4) than his opponent (6).
In the second set, Florian tried to come back, holding the first game. Monaco answered with a love hold, and before the Argentine could break, both players held break-points, failing to capitalize any. It was not until the fifth game that Monaco jumped ahead on the scoreboard, breaking from 30 after a failed volley by Mayer. He would win the next three games losing only two points to clinch the second set and stay six games away from the second round, 6/2.
The final set was the tightest. Despite losing his service in the first game, Florian Mayer kept toe-to-toe with the Argentine, eventually rebounding from 15-40 to hold and avoid falling 0/3 down. He, however, failed to push a single break-point in his opponent’s serve, who served it out the match from love, with a 6/4 scoreline in the third.
Juan Monaco now advances to face Nick Kyrgios from Australia in the second round. The Aussie caused a fuss at the All England Club last year by upsetting two-time champion Rafael Nadal in the fourth round.