2010 BNP Paribas Masters: Semi-final Review – Roger Federer vs. Gael Monfils
Saturday evening, Roger Federer met local favourite Gael Monfils for their semi-final match at the Palais Omnisports de Paris Bercy. Enjoying the home crowd advantage, Monfils finally defeated Federer.
Federer made his furthest run at Bercy this year having made it to the semi-finals, a feat he had never accomplished before. Even if he didn’t make it to the finals, the Swiss phenomenon can be proud of this accomplishment. Federer
was awarded the top seed in the main draw after Spanish legend Rafael Nadal pulled out of the event with a shoulder injury. Coming from a Basel win, the Swiss maestro was in full form and made his way into the semis without a single set loss doing away with
local Richard Gasquet, Czech Radek Stepanek and 2010 Valencia champion Jurgen Melzer.
It was a “personal best” day for Monfils too. Apart from making it to the finals, Monfils enjoys another accomplishment having finally managed to win one over the Swiss, something he had failed to do so till now. Clearly sixth
time is the charm for the French player, although Federer still leads their head-to-head score at 5-1.
Twelfth seed Monfils moved into the semis after doing away with Spaniard icon Fernando Verdasco in the third round and top Brit Andy Murray in the quarterfinals.
In a nail-biting, edge-of-the-seat match that lasted for two hours and forty-nine minutes, no clear cut winner could be predicted. Both professionals went at it neck-to-neck taking all three sets into tiebreakers.
Minutes into the opener and Federer saved three break points to take a quick lead at 2-1. Federer maintained the one-game lead till 5-4 in the opener with Monfils closing in fast. Winning two of the next three games, Monfils took
the first set into a tiebreaker. With a flow of services and returns that followed, both players desperately hoped for a break, though none came their way for fourteen points. The French player, serving for the fifteenth point, finally caught a break winning
the next two consecutive points. Monfils won the tiebreaker 9-7, awarding Federer his first set loss of the event. Monfils carried his form into the second set taking the lead at 2-1, though Federer soon caught up levelling the score at 4-4. Serving at 4-5,
Federer strove to stay alive in the game by securing a win for himself. The set score again tied at 6-6, taking the match into its second tiebreaker. This time around, however, the Swiss meant business as he rushed into the lead winning the tiebreaker 7-1.
With one win each, the match entered the decider. Federer continued his form into the decider, leading it by 4-1. Serving at 1-4, Monfils caught a lucky break winning three consecutive games, levelling the score at 4-4. Winning two games each of the next four
games, the decider entered the third tiebreaker of the match. Monfils took the lead in the tiebreaker, eventually winning it 7-4.
Moving past Federer, Monfils makes it to the final for the second year in the running. Monfils made it to the final in 2009 as well, losing the chance at the title to Novak Djokovic. Monfils will play Swede Robin Soderling in the
final for their third career meeting.
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