KAOHSIUNG, September 22, 2018

Gael Monfils is seeking his sixth title on the ATP Challenger Tour, facing South Korean qualifier Soonwoo Kwon in Sunday’s singles final of the OEC Open in Kaohsiung.

The top seed of the $150,000 hard-court event eased past Duckhee Lee from South Korea 6-1, 6-1. Monfils struck 11 aces, winning 83 per cent of his first service points. He broke his opponent’s serve five times to advance in only 56 minutes. Monfils is playing his first ATP Challenger event since clinching the title in Bordeaux 2013.

Earlier in the day, Kwon upset the tournament’s No. 2 Malek Jaziri of Tunisia 6-3, 6-4. The 20-year-old from Seoul won 57 per cent of the total points played to seal victory in one hour and 19 minutes.

Monfils and Kwon will meet for the first time. The #NextGenATP player will appear in his third final on the ATP Challenger Tour, hoping to lift his maiden trophy.