Roger Federer vs. Gael Monfils: U.S. Open Quarterfinal
Roger Federer vs. Gael Monfils
No. 2 seeded Roger Federer and No. 20. ranked Gael Monfils play Thursday night at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
In his last two U.S. Open matches, Monfils has beat No. 7 ranked Grigor Dimitrov, and No. 12 seed Richard Gasquet.
This is the Monfils' second appearance in a U.S. Open quarterfinal. The frenchman last played in the quarterfinals in 2010, when he lost to Novak Djokovic.
Monfils also made it to the quarterfinals in the 2014 French Open. This is the first time Monfils has made two quarterfinal appearance in the same season.
Federer has lost just one set in his four matches in this year's tournament. On Monday, Federer beat Roberto Bautista Agut to advance to the quarterfinals. He previously beat Marcel Granollers (third round), Sam Groth (second round), and Marinko Matosevic (first round). At last year's U.S. Open, Federer lost to 19th-seeded Tommy Rebredo in the Round of 16.
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At the Western & Southern Open last month, Monfils took Federer to three sets (6-4, 4-6, 6-3). Last year, Monfils beat Federer at the Shanghai Masters, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3. The last time the men played each other in a major was at the 2011 French Open. Federer won in straight sets (6-4, 6-3, 7-6).
After the win in Cincinnati, Federer leads the head-to-head series 7-2.
The winner of Thursday's match will play either Tomas Berdych or Marin Cilic in the semi finals. If Monfils wins, he will at least match the farthest he has gone in a major. Monfils reached the semifinals of the French Open in 2008.
Federer has not reached the U.S. Open semifinal since 2011.
Monfils has won five career titles - none in majors. Federer has won the U.S. Open five times (2004-2008).
From theLos Angeles Times:
Monfils called Federer "the best player ever" and said that playing him will be special and something he can tell his children. When informed of that, Federer shook his head, grinned and said, "I hope the match will be memorable then, especially for his unborn children."
