Showman Gael Monfils loses tough 5 setter

Kukushin d. Monfils 6-2, 7-5, 5-7, 1-6, 6-4. The number 92 defeated the Frenchman, Gael Monfils, in a 5 set encounter. Monfils, who suffered from an extremely injured back, could barely hit the ball hard at all and could only pop the ball back in play every shot. However after going up 2 sets, the 92th ranked Kukushin couldn't capitalize and Monfils was able to take the 3rd and 4th sets, playing off of only the adrenaline the crowd was giving him. However in the 5th set, Kukushin got the crucial break and won. Monfils admitted he was “lucky” to force the fifth set, and was playing purely on adrenaline brought on by the crowd.“This one was tough because I had a sore back. But it was really cool. For sure the crowd helped me,” he said.“That's why I chose to keep going, because I could easily have given up. But it was a nice atmosphere. I just tried to have luck in the match and fight, so it was cool.”