Pure HEAD Final at Sopot/Poland - First ATP Title for Gael Monfils

A pure HEAD final took place at Sopot/Poland to decide the Idea Prokom Open 2005 with two players to reach an ATP Final for the first time: Gael Monfils from France and Florian Mayer (Germany).

After three incredibly exciting sets, Monfils, the 19 years old rising star could capture his first title after 2 hours 15 minutes with a 7:6, 4:6 and 7:5 over the 21 years old Mayer.

Monfils was controlling the match in the first set and was up 5:2 after an early break. But Florian Mayer broke back to bring it to a tie break.. In an amazing display of consistancy, Monfils was winning this tie break 8:6 and the first set. In the second set, Mayer was breaking in the seventh game and able to hold his service for an 6:4. The third set was very tight. But when Monfils had a match point at 6:5, Mayer hit a forehand into the net and the Frenchman threw his arms in the air to celebrate his triumph.

Both players had to overcome three sets in the semi-finals, where Mayer defeated world’s No. 9 and third seeded, Guillermo Coria (Argentine) with 6:4, 5:7 and 6:3, while Monfils was beating Potito Starace from Italy 3:6, 7:5 and 6:4.

Monfils as well as Mayer are partners of HEAD using the Liquidmetal.Prestige in all their matches. Monfils and HEAD signed a long term contract in spring this year. There is not much doubt among tennis experts that Monfils, who was able to win three out of four Junior Grand Slam tournaments in 2004, will someday take the big step to elite. Only the Swedish star Stefan Edberg had ever won all four majors as a junior, back in 1983. In past years, Gael Monfils was part of the HEAD Team Elite, the international sponsorship program for promising young athletes.