Monfils Falls in Toronto Masters Opener After Missing Four Match Points

Khabor Wala Desk

Published: 28th July 2025, 3:18 PM

Monfils Falls in Toronto Masters Opener After Missing Four Match Points

Gaël Monfils suffered a dramatic first-round exit at the ATP Toronto Masters on Sunday, losing 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3) to Chilean qualifier Tomás Barrios Vera, despite holding four match points under sweltering conditions.

Match Overview

Match Detail	Result
Winner	Tomás Barrios Vera (Chile)
Scoreline	6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7/3)
Duration	Nearly 3 hours
Temperature	35°C (blistering summer heat)
Monfils’ Double Faults	15 (career-worst in Bo3 match)
Winner’s Rank	ATP #142
Monfils’ Match Points	4 (all missed)

The 27-year-old Barrios Vera celebrated his first-ever victory at Masters level, simultaneously ending a seven-match losing streak that dated back to late February.

“I don’t know how I saved so many match points. It was super-close, super-tight,” said a relieved Barrios Vera. “This victory is very important for my confidence playing this type of big event.”

Monfils Struggles Under Pressure and Heat

Competing in Canada for the 14th time, Monfils appeared to falter both mentally and physically in the 35°C afternoon heat. Despite rallying from a set and a break down, the 38-year-old was unable to capitalise on his opportunities in the decider.

Key highlights of Monfils’ performance:

Recovered from a second-set deficit, breaking the Chilean twice to take the set.
Missed four match points across two different third-set service games.
Visibly fatigued, leaning on his racquet between points.
Finished with 30 winners but 47 unforced errors.

Meanwhile, Barrios Vera tallied close to 60 unforced errors, but showed better composure at key moments.

Monfils’ Canadian Woes Continue

Monfils’ early exit marks the second consecutive year he’s been ousted in the Canadian Masters’ opening round. A semi-finalist in 2016 and 2019, his current form and fitness levels appear to be a shadow of those past performances.

Other Day 1 Results

Match	Result
Reilly Opelka (USA) vs Stefan Ofner (AUT)	7-6 (8/6), 7-5
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA) vs Shintaro Mochizuki (JPN)	6-4, 6-2
Learner Tien (USA) vs Colton Smith (USA)	6-4, 7-5

Tournament Outlook

The Toronto Masters began amid controversy this year after being extended to nearly two weeks, following the Wimbledon final where Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz. Both top seeds, along with two other top-10 players, are absent due to injuries.

As a result, Alexander Zverev, currently world number three, leads the field as the top seed, although his form and mental well-being have been under scrutiny following a disappointing first-round loss at Wimbledon.