2010 PNB Paribas Masters: Roger Federer faces defeat at the hands of Gael Monfils
Frenchman Gael Monfils battled it out against Switzerland's Roger Federer in the semi-finals of the 2010 PNB Paribas Masters, only to come out victorious and make a place for himself in the championship final. The two remained evenly contested throughout the
match. Monfils got off to a good start taking the first set 7-6. Federer nevertheless responded with a 7-6 win in the second set. The deciding third set, however, went in favour of Monfils as he took the tiebreaker 7-6.
After the match, Monfils stated, "I went to the limits of myself. I feel better and better as the tournament goes on. I ran out of juice a little bit at the start of the third set but the fans were there, they pushed me and I kept
believing."
Earlier, Federer defeated Austria's Jurgen Melzer in the quarterfinal match played between the two. Seeded no. 11 at the tournament, Melzer lost the first set 1-6 and the second set 6-7 to be sent home.
Meanwhile, Gael got through with Britain's Andy Murray. Monfils initiated the match with a 6-2 win. Murray, however, turned the tables on the Frenchman only to take the second set 6-2. The decider nevertheless was taken 6-3 by
Monfils to advance to the next round.
Seeded no. 3 at the championship, Murray faced Monfils upon defeating Croatia's Marin Cilic in the third round. Cilic was beaten 7-6, 3-6, and 6-3 to be knocked out of the tournament. Gael Monfils got through with Spain's Fernando
Verdasco in the third round match of his draw. Verdasco took the first set 7-6. That, however, seemed to have been all he had to offer as Monfils took the second set 7-6 and the following set 7-5 to delete the Spaniard.
Prior to facing Gael Monfils, Verdasco defeated Frenchman Arnaud Clement. The wild card entrant took the first set 6-3 right before Fernando bagged the second set 6-3 and the final set 6-0 to proceed. Upon being seeded no. 12 at
the tournament, Gael received a bye into the second round. The professional was also opposed by Germany's Benjamin Becker. Becker lost a disappointing 6-7 and 4-6 to the Frenchman.
Monfils will now be facing Sweden's Robin Soderling in the championship final. Soderling made it through upon eliminating Frenchman Michael Llodra in the semi-finals of the tournament. Llodra took the first set 7-6 but lost the
remaining two sets 7-5 and 7-6 to be removed from the tournament.
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