Monfils !!!

For this second week of Roland Garros I saw the unbelievable match between Gael Monfils the last Frenchaman remaining and the n°5 seed the Spaniard David Ferrer. They both already spent a lot of time on court with a couple of 5-setters.

The 21-year-old Monfils, whose previous best Grand Slam result was a fourth round finish at Roland Garros (l. to Djokovic) in 2006, now faces No. 1 Roger Federer in the semifinals. Federer has won all three of their previous encounters, two of which have been played this year, most recently at ATP Masters Monte Carlo, where Federer prevailed in straight sets.

Monfils broke twice to love in the first set to seal it 6-3 after 40 minutes, before World No. 5 Ferrer hit back to break twice in the second set and level up the match as Monfils sent a backhand long. However, buoyed on by the home crowd, Monfils broke serve twice more to claim a two sets to one lead, clinching the set as Ferrer netted a half volley. Monfils carried his momentum into the fourth set, breaking the Ferrer serve twice to defeat the Spaniard after 2hr., 27min in their first meeting.

Monfils, who had won just five ATP-level matches all season prior to arriving at Roland Garros, has now won five successive matches for the just the second time in his career. He did so for the first time at 2005 Sopot when he won his sole title to date. Prior to Roland Garros, he had won back-to-back matches on clay just once in 2008 (at AMS Monte Carlo).

Monfils will meet the n°1 player in the world for a place in the final match