Mario Ancic

By Kate Battersby

It is a little known fact that when the French urge on Gael Monfils with the words "Allez, Monfils!" they are in fact saying literally: "Go on, my son!" But such encouragement did the 18-year old Frenchman little good in the third round today on No.1 Court. With a place in the last 16 at stake, last year's semi-finalist Mario Ancic beat Monfils 6-3, 6-3, 6-1.

This was a match which many observers had been keenly looking forward to, featuring as it did the 6ft 5in No.10 seed, and the fast-rising young Frenchman. Monfils was world junior champion last year, collecting the first three stages of the junior Grand Slam - including Wimbledon - before a leg injury put paid to his challenge at the junior US Open. All the same, it was the greatest achievement in the boys' game since Stefan Edberg took the junior Grand Slam in 1983. Moreover, Monfils - now ranked 83 in the world - beat the number 22 seed Dominik Hrbaty in the second round here. So it seemed a charismatic and exciting match-up. Unfortunately the encounter itself proved to be a disappointment.

In a joust where the protagonists both had a powerful serve, this should have been an encounter which hinged on the quality of return. But unexpectedly the feebleness of Monfils' delivery also made a major contribution. In the first set he could manage only 33 per cent of first serves, and although matters improved in the second set, it was only up to 47 per cent, still way short of what was required against a player of Ancic's quality. This, combined with the unhelpful fact that Monfils' returns were also less than devastating, told the story of the match.

Ancic's serve - one of the best in the game, especially his second serve - and his excellent backhand return have already taken him to the first title of his career last week on the grass of 's-Hertogenbosch. His own path to the third round had required him to beat two qualifiers, and against Monfils he set about his task with gusto, despite a heavy strapping on his left ankle. A 35-minute break for rain at 5-3 in the second set only speeded up the juggernaut's progress, and the match was over in 1 hour 21 mins.

Of course, at age 18 there is much time yet for Monfils. After all, this was his first appearance as a direct entry into a Grand Slam tournament, having been granted wild cards for both the Australian and French Opens. But Ancic is looking useful. The last player to defeat Roger Federer on grass - in the first round in 2002, when the Swiss was seeded 7th here - is one of the most dangerous in the top half of the draw this year.