Roger Federer vs Gael Monfils: French Open 2011 Quarter Finals Preview

Roger Federer at the French Open

Tuesday at the French Open 2011 will mark the beginning of the business end in the men’s singles category as Roger Federer takes on a resurgent Gael Monfils. This encounter will send one of the two into the semi finals to play Novak Djokovic who received a walkover after his quarter-final opponent Fognini withdrew because of a leg-injury. Federer enjoyed a straight sets win over compatriot Wawrinka in Round 4 and has looked like a man on a mission throughout the clay court grand slam. He will be fresh and geared up for this match.

Gael Monfils will be rushed into this match after his match against David Ferrer which ran into five sets took a lot of toll on him. The Frenchman and the crowd favorite defeated Ferrer late on Monday after the game was played over two days due to suspension on Sunday. Monfils must surely be exhausted after that match and he will get little comfort even after a delayed 2:00 PM start.

Monfils has played his typical defensive Tennis at the French Open relying on inducing unforced errors and his stamina. He banks on deep baseline play and sudden pre-conceived forehand cross court returns on second serve. Monfils draws heavily on his energy reserves to come up with big first serves at crucial moments and Federer will need to be forewarned of that. Monfils has the ability to channelize the energy of the crowd as well in order to pressurize the opponent but it is difficult to see him do that against Roger Federer.

Fed-Express on the other hand has surely been rolling with some steam in this French Open and he is most likely to end Monfils’ campaign today. His exquisite backhand play will be impossible to match for the Frenchman who looked weak with that very element in his game against David Ferrer. Federer will force him into playing narrow passes and will frequently use drop shots. Being on top of his game, Federer will derive a lot of momentum going into the semis to play DJokovic if he wins this one with relative ease.

Federer will also find his record against Monfils supportive as he has been undefeated by the Frenchman on clay court. Federer has won all the 3 games played between the two. In other men’s singles category games to be played today, Andy Murray will continue his comeback as he faces Viktor Troicki in the last and 5^th set of their topsy-turvy encounter.