By Erik Gudris | Friday, September 5, 2014

 

Roger Federer fought back from two sets behind and then two match points down in beating Gael Monfils in their US Open quarterfinal.

Photo Credit: AP

Roger Federer kept his hopes alive for a possible sixth US Open title with yet another career comeback win from two sets to love down. This time against No. 20 seed Gael Monfils of France in their Thursday night quarterfinal.

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Despite not having dropped a set entering this match, Monfils remained a question mark as to how he would respond to the moment and the nighttime atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. Yet it was the talented yet mercurial Frenchman, known for drinking Coke on changeovers, who adapted better early on to the windy and cooler conditions in the first set.

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Though Monfils struck several gasp-inducing winners that he's known for, he also showed better focus and clarity of shotmaking that he isn't. As a more unsettled Federer dropped his own serve, Monfils seized his opportunity.

Playing within himself despite the wind swirling around both players, Monfils claimed the set 6-4.

Federer couldn't change his fortunes in the second set as the No. 2 seed resumed hitting more errors than winners from his racquet. After Monfils earned another early break, Federer became agitated and tried to force the issue quicker by charging to net more and attempting several drop shots that Monfils easily ran down to set up winners.

Solid serving yet again from Monfils, followed up by another break of Federer's serve, gave the Frenchman an unexpected, but deserved two sets to love lead.

Federer finally got things going to the delight of the majority of the crowd on hand by breaking Monfils to start the third set. Though Monfils broke back later for 2-all, Federer looked at peace with the conditions and the high level, so far, coming from his opponent.

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Breaking Monfils again, a more confident looking Federer soon out served out the set 6-4 thanks to a forehand winner.

With overall match play time not even over the two hour mark, the start of the fourth set became more about if Federer could keep up his momentum or would Monfils grab it away. Federer slowly began winning more of the longer baseline rallies that earlier would go in favor of the Frenchman.

Yet even after taking hold of an early break lead, Federer had work to do. Despite battling to hold his serve in an extended game, Federer would lose it and thus hand the break back for 2-all. Knowing that was a key moment, an angry Federer, after just sending a volley wide, smacked the net with his racquet.

That emotion fueled Federer in the next game as his reclaimed the lead with a smash winner for 3-2. Monfils didn't go away though and took back the advantage with yet another break for 3-all. With Monfils finding big serves when he needed them, the Frenchman soon found himself a game away from victory up 5-4.

With the pressure on his serve now, Federer missed a forehand thus giving Monfils 15-40 and with that, two match points. Federer responded with strong shotmaking that forced Monfils to hit a backhand passing shot wide on the first match point. A potent Federer forehand erased the second match point leveling things at deuce.

Federer held for 5-all and that was when Monfils appeared visibly shaken sensing that his opportunity was gone.

Double faulting twice in the next game, Monfils surrendered his serve and then the set. Federer closed it out 7-5 to a massive roar of approval from the crowd.

When Federer broke a reeling Monfils to open the final set, the end came quick. As the Frenchman's level faded, Federer's own rose with each confident swing of his racquet. By this stage, Federer had traveled 70 times to net, winning 50 of those points. Federer earned an insurance break for 4-1 and by now it was clear that Monfils would not post his own comeback anytime soon.

On his own match point a few games later, a jubilant Federer roared in celebration on completing the 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 victory.

This is now the ninth time in Federer's career that he has come back from being two sets to love down and still won.

Now into the US Open semifinals for the first time since 2011, Federer will next play No. 14 seed Marin Cilic.

Federer's own earlier prediction in a pre-match chat with ESPN's Brad Gilbert proved almost correct. Federer said he expected "crazy points" and "entertaining points" against Monfils. While fans saw a more focused Monfils, at least in the first two sets, the entertainment and thrills provided by both players proved a fitting end for this last official night match of the tournament.