Roger Federer battles back from two match points down to reach US Open semis
Swiss star fights off Gael Monfils to set up showdown with Marin Cilic
Roger Federer pulled off a great escape by fighting off two match points to beat Frenchman Gael Monfils and reach the semi-finals of the US Open, keeping his bid for an 18th grand slam on track.
The stirring 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 comeback win marks the ninth time in his career Federer has rallied from two sets down to snatch victory, setting up a final-four meeting with 14th seed Marin Cilic.
Sixth seeded Tomas Berdych had no chance of conjuring a similar escape and lost 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) to big-serving Croat Cilic, who is making his return to Flushing Meadows after missing last year’s grand slam due to a doping suspension.
Federer, a near-perfect 25-1 playing under the floodlights of Arthur Ashe Stadium court, must have wondered which Monfils would show up.
Labelled one of the game’s great natural talents, Monfils can be wildly entertaining or maddening, depending on his mood and the near capacity crowd saw both sides of the 28-year-old Frenchman during a riveting the three-hour, 20-minute encounter.