Federer, Monfils set up thrilling tie
5 Sept 2014 5:11 AM IST
Second seed Federer reached his 10th US Open quarterfinal in last 11 years with a comfortable 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 win over Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut while Monfils, the 20th seed, reached his second New York last-eight stunning seventh-seeded Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 7-6 (8/6), 7-5.
Federer, the 17-time major winner, leads Monfils 7-2 in career meetings, including their most recent clash in Cincinnati last month. Federer was barely troubled by Bautista Agut, the 17th seed who was trying to make a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time.
He broke in the third and fifth games for a 4-1 lead and despite surrendering one of the breaks in the eighth game, two successive aces sealed the opening set and there was no looking back for the 33-year-old.
Crowd favourite Monfils overcame a dramatic loss of composure in the second set to reach his second US Open quarterfinal, four years after his first. Wimbledon semifinalist Dimitrov, 23, was hoping to reach his third quarterfinal at the majors this year but despite occasional breath-taking shot-making, he was undone by 38 unforced errors.
Monfils, who hasn’t dropped a set at the tournament, raced through the first set on the back of a break for a 6-5 lead. The Frenchman was another break to the good at 4-2 in the second before he got embroiled in a brief war of words over distractions on the court. Still seething, the Parisian surrendered a break point by not returning the ball in the eighth game. But Monfils bounced back in impressive style, saving two set points in the tiebreak before winning four points in a row to open a two sets to love lead.
Dimitrov, who had never won a match in New York on his three previous visits, was facing having to come back from two sets to love down for the first time in his career.
He then added to the drama, albeit unintentionally, when he had to leave the court to replace his shoes which came apart early in the third set. But his luck didn’t change and his campaign was over when he served up his fourth double fault of the tie.
Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych reached the quarter-finals with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win over Austria’s Dominic Thiem. Berdych, a semi-finalist in 2012, saved seven break points in the first set, but it was plain sailing after that mini-scare as he wrapped up victory in just 98 minutes.
Federer, the 17-time major winner, leads Monfils 7-2 in career meetings, including their most recent clash in Cincinnati last month. Federer was barely troubled by Bautista Agut, the 17th seed who was trying to make a Grand Slam quarter-final for the first time.
He broke in the third and fifth games for a 4-1 lead and despite surrendering one of the breaks in the eighth game, two successive aces sealed the opening set and there was no looking back for the 33-year-old.
Crowd favourite Monfils overcame a dramatic loss of composure in the second set to reach his second US Open quarterfinal, four years after his first. Wimbledon semifinalist Dimitrov, 23, was hoping to reach his third quarterfinal at the majors this year but despite occasional breath-taking shot-making, he was undone by 38 unforced errors.
Monfils, who hasn’t dropped a set at the tournament, raced through the first set on the back of a break for a 6-5 lead. The Frenchman was another break to the good at 4-2 in the second before he got embroiled in a brief war of words over distractions on the court. Still seething, the Parisian surrendered a break point by not returning the ball in the eighth game. But Monfils bounced back in impressive style, saving two set points in the tiebreak before winning four points in a row to open a two sets to love lead.
Dimitrov, who had never won a match in New York on his three previous visits, was facing having to come back from two sets to love down for the first time in his career.
He then added to the drama, albeit unintentionally, when he had to leave the court to replace his shoes which came apart early in the third set. But his luck didn’t change and his campaign was over when he served up his fourth double fault of the tie.
Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych reached the quarter-finals with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-4 win over Austria’s Dominic Thiem. Berdych, a semi-finalist in 2012, saved seven break points in the first set, but it was plain sailing after that mini-scare as he wrapped up victory in just 98 minutes.
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