TENNIS: Monfils wins Boodles Challenge

Gael Monfils produced a fine performance in the Boodles Challenge final at Stoke Park on Saturday to beat Dustin Brown 6-3 6-4.

The Frenchman stopped Brown’s superb run at the tournament this week with an entertaining mix of unstoppable serves and powerful forehands.

Having beaten Nicolas Kiefer and Victor Hanescu in his two previous matches, Monfils was on superlative form on the final day’s play and was a worthy winner of the Boodles Challenge trophy.
 
Monfils' serve was the deciding factor in his win and he moved Brown all over the court with some sensational ground strokes, causing too many problems for the German-born Brown.

The Jamaican's serve was not as potent as in his previous matches but he still entertained the crowd with his Caribbean flare.

Brown, who has become a tennis celebrity in recent weeks, has been extremely popular at the Boodles Challenge and showed an unbelievable array of trick shots that thrilled the expectant crowd.
 
The pair, who are great friends, could not have provided a more thrilling finish to a fantastic week of tennis at Stoke Park, that saw the likes of Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko, Fernando Verdasco and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga wow the crowds.
 
 Monfils said: "It’s been a great performance from me this week and good preparation for Wimbledon. I’ve improved a lot and I realize I need to work on my movement but I’m feeling good as I head back to London.

"Thanks to everyone and see you at Wimbledon.”
 
Defeated finallist Brown commented: "I’ve had two great matches here and it’s been great practice for Wimbledon. It’s a shame my serve wasn’t as good today but I feel good and it’s my first major Grand Slam next week so I can’t wait.

"Thanks to everyone that came to support me at the tournament and for making it such a brilliant week at Stoke Park.”
 
World No.9 Fernando Verdasco took to the court with Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer in the first match of the day, defeating him 2-6 7-6 12-10.

Kiefer dominated the first set with a superb display of tennis but lost his way as the match progressed, allowing the Spaniard to come back into it.

Verdasco produced an array of extraordinary ground strokes from the baseline to break back in the second set and finished it off with a determined push to come through 12-10 in the championship tie-break.
 
In the final exhibition match of the day, the British pairing of Jamie Delgado and Josh Goodall defeated Ross Hutchins and Jordan Kerr in two sets, 6-4 6-4.
 
Results from Saturday:
Final - G Monfils (FRA) bt D Brown (JAM) 6-3 6-4
F Verdasco (ESP) bt N Kiefer (GER) 2-6 7-6 12-10
J Delgado (GBR)/J Goodall (GBR) bt R Hutchins (GBR)/J Kerr (AUS) 6-4 6-4