Gael Monfils Sees Off Federer To Reach Final

Roger Federer’s hopes of becoming the first man to ever contest all nine Masters finals was dashed this afternoon as Gael Monfils saw of the former world number one in a thrilling three set clash.

The Paris Masters is the only final in the series that Federer has not reached and was the firm favourite going into the match, having never lost to the Frenchman.

But Monfils has been riding on a wave of great form in recent weeks having won the Open de Sud and dumped Andy Murray out of Paris yesterday.

In the opening set both players were supreme on serve and there were no breaks of serve, Monfils once again bringing an aggressive style of play to the court; picking up where he left off against Murray.

An edgy tie break followed as Federer and Monfils matched each other blow for blow. But it was the Frenchman who snuck it 9-7 to take only his second set off Federer.

Into the second and once again there was little to choose between the pair until the tie break. Federer seemed to put his foot on the gas and motored through the tie break to take it 1-7 and level the match at a set a piece.

Monfils’ game started to fall away at the beginning of the third set and when Federer got the early break and opened up a 4-1 it looked like the top seed was going to book his place in the final.

But Monfils showed his class as he got his game back under control and broke back to level the set at 4-4, the first time that Federer had been broken in the tournament.

But Federer held his next service game to edge ahead 5-4 and Monfils was left to serve to stay in the match.

And Federer squandered five match points chances during that game, despite two net chords going his way, as Monfils hung tough and forced the set to another tie break.

In the pressure situation of the tie breaker it was Federer who began to wilt as his forehand deserted him and Monfils wrapped up a 7-6 (9-7) 6-7 (1-7) 7-6 (7-4) win to ensure there would be a Frenchman in the final tomorrow.

In that final he will face big hitting Swede Robin Soderling.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw