Paris Masters: Monfils Thrills Federer To Reach Final

Federer put in awkward postures by Monfils

Saving five match points against Federer happens once in a lifetime. Gael Monfils has already done it. The French player reached the French Masters for the second time in a row, passing world number two and top seeded in Paris Roger Federer in three in-mirror sets, 7-6(7), 6-7(1), 7-6(4) as the only word to characterize the semi final was ‘dramatic’. The two players went head-to-head almost the entire match that saw finally the 14th-ranked ATP Monfils celebrating a giant triumph in front of a home crowd. The French surely played his best tennis of the week, saving five match points after fought back a 1-4-game deficit in the last set that could threaten his victory. Federer had one of the most disappointing faces ever.

All the five match points set have been saved in the 12^th game of the last set when serving. It was almost the longest match played at the Paris Masters this week, if not the longest, Monfils claiming the victory within two hours and 40 minutes. It was also his first win against Federer in six meetings as in all other five the French, who also saved two match points against Fernando Verdasco, would only have won one single set. Thus, he is very close to claim his second title of the season after Monfils triumphed in another French competition, in Montpellier.

“I’m happy I won against Rog. He’s someone I admire a lot. He’s a legend of tennis, ‘the’ legend, and beating him is a beautiful victory. I will remember that for my whole life,” said Monfils after the game.

Of course, the victory would be the more important it has been taken in his hometown. With an electrifying home crowd on his back, lot of practices and also a very rich experience helped Monfils stay cool during the limit points. Otherwise, things could have gone worse. Next, Monfils will play fifth seed ATP Robin Soderling. The Swedish passed another host Michael Llodra in the other semi final, Soderling beating the world 34 also in a thriller that needed both tie-breaks and two-game differences in order to be completed. As for Federer, the Swiss conceded his forth match of the season in which had match points.

Thus, Soderling ousted Llodra 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 and will try to claim his first French Masters. Llodra passed world number three Novak Djokovic in the third round in Paris, but couldn’t do more in front of the Swedish who is still looking for his second title of the year after the Rotterdam one. On the other side, an upset Roger claimed that he still feels in good form, thing which is crucial for the World Tour Finals in London. The 29-year-old is very close to surpassing Peter Sampras at the most-titles won in career, but these fewer titles are still late.

He would also have the strength to add that he is pleased with the way he performed in the semi final, but also throughout the entire week in Paris. He claimed he is very well ‘physically and fresh mentally’. Indeed, these might be very good opportunities for the Swiss to claim his fifth Tour Finals. Roger won the competition in 2003, 2004, 2006 and 2007. There will be also present world number one Rafa Nadal, who didn’t take part at the French Masters due to injury, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, who exited pretty early in Paris, Robin Soderling, Tomas Berdych, David Ferrer and Andy Roddick, the last three of them having qualified this week.

Finally, Roger Federer revealed he will go to Switzerland to prepare for the London Finals, competition he is expecting to win, while Nadal will also be there trying to claim his first Finals. The Spaniard would also reach two semi finals in 2006 and 2007, but he is now in the greatest form he’s ever been. He won seven titles this season, thing which secured him the top spot from long time ago.