France's Gael Monfils returns the ball to Peter Gojowczyk during the quarter-final of the ATP Qatar Open tennis competition in Doha on January 4, 2018. AFP / Karim Jaafar
Three-time Doha finalist Gael Monfils walked his way into the finals of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open without hitting a ball in the semi-finals as top seed Dominic Thiem withdrew due to fever.
The World No.5 Thiem, who stood tall as all the other seven seeds around him crashed one by one, displayed top form throughout the tournament on way to straight sets wins in all his three encounters.
Thiem started his season in Qatar by defeating Evgeny Donskoy of Russia 7-6, 6-3 and followed it up by defeating AlJaz Bedene of Slovakia 7-5, 6-4.
In the quarter-finals on Thursday, the 24-year-old got past Greek qualifier Stefanos Tsitsipas. Thiem defeated the teenager 7-5, 6-4.
“Dominic Thiem pulls out from #Qatar_Exxonmobil_Open due to fever. #Qatartennis #tennis #Qatar #Doha,” Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) announced on its twitter page.
An hour earlier before the QTF’s official announcement, Thiem wrote on his facebook page: “I have bad news, I am in bed with fever and there is almost no chance of a recovery until tonight."
"Of course I am disappointed, but nevertheless I had a solid start into the new season," he added.
The Austrian hopes to be fit for the Australian Open which starts in 10 days time.
"Now I am focusing on Melbourne and being fit and prepared for the first Grand Slam of the year," Thiem said
In Saturday's final, Monfils of France will play the winner of the semifinal between Andrey Rublev of Russia and Guido Pella of Argentina.
Monfils arrived in Doha following a four-month hiatus following his injury at the US Open.
The Frenchman, who has lost the all the three finals he has contested so far in Doha, will be aiming to be lucky the fourth time.
Monfils finished runner-up to Roger Federer in 2006 and six years later also finished as runner-up to compatriot Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. In 2014 he lost in the final to Rafa Nadal.
Handed a wild card for this edition by the organizers, the 31-year-old Monfils will be playing his 27 career final today.
In the quarter-finals on Thursday, Monfils saved a set point in the second set to beat German Peter Gojowczyk 6-3, 7-6(6).
Monfils last reached a semi-final in June 2017 at the International Eastbourne.
