By Paul Gotham
For more than an hour of Thursday night’s U.S. Open quarter-final match, it was difficult to identify the winner of 17 major singles titles.
Then Roger Federer appeared.
Lauded in earlier rounds for his footwork and pace, Federer lacked rhythm and balance while dropping the first two sets to Gael Monfils. Looking unnerved by his carefree opponent who has been known, the five-time U.S. Open champ uncharacteristically made poor decisions on drop shots, missed routine forehands and lacked aggression with his backhand.
But one doesn’t become a champion on talent alone.
Federer recovered to win the third set 6-4 before facing two match points in the in the fourth. It all unraveled for Monfils from there who failed to regain the edge he used to take the first two sets. Federer held serve. Tied five games apiece, Monfils opened the next with consecutive double faults. Federer won five straight games and looked the part of the champion in the fifth set.
Monfils had won 14 straight sets entering the match and looked poised to make his first trip to the Open semi-finals. With his athleticism on display he used array of winners ranging from crafty drop shots to well-timed passing shots to frustrate his opponent. He overcame an ankle injury to win the second before Federer found traction.
Federer’s win completes a semi-final lineup composed of player’s all coached by former champions. the No. 2 seed Federer, guided by Stefan Edberg (7-time major winner including a pair of Open titles) faces No. 14 seed Marin Cilic coached by Goran Ivanisevic -winner of the 2001 Wimbledon. In the other match, 1989 French Open winner Michael Chang advises No. 10 Kei Nishikori as he takes on No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic coached by six-time major champ Boris Becker. Becker won the 1989 U.S. Open.
Djokovic upended No. 8 Andy Murray in four sets (7-6, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4) to reach his eighth consecutive Open semi-finals. Nishikori bounced Australian Open champ and No. 3 seed Stan Wawrinka (6-3, 5-7, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4). Cilic swept No. 6 seed Tomas Berdych in straight sets (6-2, 6-4, 7-6).
Add to the mix seven-time major champ and commentator John McEnroe, and fans have plenty of vintage tennis history on hand.
Oh and about Monfils and his carefree style, watch him use his head to return a Djokovic shot.
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