Bonzi Maintains Focus This Week, Reaches Metz Final

Benjamin Bonzi, Moselle Open, Metz
Benjamin Bonzi (photo: Moselle Open)

METZ/WASHINGTON, November 8, 2024 (by Michael Dickens)

While it’s never easy to play against an injured or ailing player, 124th-ranked French qualifier Benjamin Bonzi made the most of what faced him during his Moselle Open semifinal against Alex Michelsen in Metz, France Friday evening.

Importantly, the 28-year-old from Nimes maintained his focus and won, 4-6, 6-0, 7-5, to advance to his third career ATP Tour final — and second one in France after reaching the Marseille final in 2023.

The eighth-seeded Michelsen from the United States, who wasn’t able to serve for a set and a half, gave it his all. He called a medical timeout during the middle of the second set, due to an abdominal injury. Although he struggled physically, he continued to battle — even relying upon under-handed serves and reduced pace on his returns. However, Bonzi was determined to give French fans something to cheer about.

“It’s very difficult to stay in the match, to get the rhythm,” Bonzi said during his on-court interview after earning his fourth tour-level victory in 10 matches this season. “When they get in front of you, not giving you heat on the serve or heat at the beginning of the point, it’s very tough. Then, [Alex] was playing tough on my service games. It was a riddle to play mentally, to keep focused and just to win it. I’m happy to get this one.”

Although Bonzi failed to close out the victory on his serve while ahead 5-3, he maintained his nerve and won on his fifth match point. He finished the two-hour, one-minute match with nine aces and 37 winners, which helped to offset 42 unforced errors. Bonzi converted six of 14 break-point chances while saving seven of 10 break points. He outpointed Michelsen 102-83.

“I was way better in the second set than in the first set. The last one was very tough,” Bonzi admitted.

Bonzi has now won 20 of his last 21 matches across all levels, including a pair of ATP Challenger Tour titles last month in Roanne and St. Brieuc, France, and is 49-32 in all competitions in 2024. This week in Metz, after winning two rounds of qualifying to reach the main draw, Bonzi has defeated Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain, upset World No. 7 Casper Ruud of Norway, eased past fellow Frenchman Quentin Halys, and now beaten Michelsen. He’s the last of seven French players who began the week in northeastern France.

“I am super happy to be in the final,” said Bonzi, who will return to the Top 100 next week after reaching the Metz final. “There is one last match, but I came here with a lot of confidence. I was not expecting a final. I was just trying to play good tennis. There is one more match and I will try to do my best to win it.”

Earlier, Cameron Norrie of Great Britain advanced to his first ATP Tour final of the season after defeating No. 66 Corentin Moutet of France, 6-2, 7-6 (5). The 57th-ranked Norrie recovered from down 2-5 in the second-set tie-break and won the final five points of the often-entertaining semifinal.

Norrie advanced to his 15th ATP Tour final — and first one since defeating then-No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz to win the 2023 Rio de Janeiro title — by hitting 28 winners, converting four of five break-point opportunities and outpointing Moutet 68-53 during the one-hour, 32-minute semifinal.

“He’s honestly one of my favorite players to watch,” Norrie said during his on-court interview, speaking of Moutet. “The way he moves is incredible and his hands are just another level. I knew it was going to be tough.”

Norrie, who will return to Top 50 for the first time since September with his semifinal win, became just the second British finalist in tournament history after Andy Murray in 2007. He is the only ATP Tour champion left in the field.

“It’s been a difficult year for me and I was never able to gain any momentum, so it’s nice to finish the last week of the year playing in the final,” Norrie said, after securing his 21st win of the season. “I was just back to competing every point. It’s nice to get my first indoor final as well.”

Saturday’s title match between Bonzi and Norrie will be their first meeting.

Around the Moselle Open

No. 3 seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool of Great Britain entered Friday’s doubles semifinals as the only seeded team remaining. They faced Sander Arends of the Netherlands and Luke Johnson of Great Britain in the first semifinal and were upset by the Dutch/British duo, 6-7 (7), 6-4, 10-5, in an hour and 30 minutes.

The second semifinal between two unseeded teams  was won by Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Albano Olivetti of France, who defeated Rithvik Choudary Bollipalli of India and Francisco Cabral of Portugal, 6-3, 7-6 (4), in one hour and 21 minutes.

The winners will play in Saturday’s title match.

Friday’s Moselle Open results

Saturday’s Moselle Open order of play

By the numbers

Cameron Norrie has returned to the Top 50 for the first time since September with his semifinal win Friday. He is the only ATP Tour champion left in the Metz field.

“Quotable …”

“It’s a really great win for me, I had to fight hard. I really should have had [the match] I that tie-break, but he played bigger than me and took a bit more risk.”

— Cameron Norrie, during his on-court interview Thursday following his quarterfinal win over No. 61 Zizou Bergs of Belgium.

 

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