French Open: Sunday 25 May to Sunday 8 June
Coverage: BBCi, Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website.
French Open
Semi-final latest:
R Federer clinches semi-final place ...
Swiss big-cheese Federer breezes into Hamburg final ...
Tennis: Ancic wins in Miami ... FEDERER Swi * v G Monfils Fra
6-2 0-1
* denotes server
LATEST ACTION (all times BST)
To get involved use 606 or text us your views & comments on 81111. (Not all contributions can be used) By Sarah Holt
SECOND SET
Federer 6-2 0-1 Monfils
Monfils fires down two aces as he races to 40-0. A show-boating shot between the legs comes to nothing as he slides back to 40-15 but Federer goes just wide so Monfils holds to 15.
FIRST SET
Federer 6-2 Monfils
Roger's got new balls and he's serving for the set. Looks like the set has got his name all over as he races to a 40-15 lead. That's it, the world number one takes the first set in 31 minutes. The French crowd will have to levez leur jeu if they want to help Monfils turn this match around methinks.
"Monfils seems too lightweight in front of Federer. Just cannot see him stretching Fed to 4 sets."
JT_Blueforever on 606
Federer 5-2 Monfils
A diagonal forehand from Monfils sees him climb back to 15-30 but Federer grabs a double break point at 15-40 with a unreturnable forehand. Monfils claws back deuce as his low, low pick-up shot skims the net. Federer rushes in to the net to plop the ball at Monfils' feet for advantage but he nets so the game back to deuce. Federer takes advantage after a third deuce and there is a collective sigh as the Swiss breaks again.
Federer 4-2 Monfils
Monfils slips and slides and chases the ball around the clay - but Federer holds to 15.
Federer 3-2 Monfils
Federer skies the ball high for 15-0 on the Monfils serve but the Frenchman then loops the ball wide for 15-15. Federer takes the ball early for 15-30 but Monfils rescues 30-30 with a diving forehand. Federer sends his return into the tramlines and the French world number 59 holds serve and returns to his seat.
Federer 3-1 Monfils
Monfils moves to 15-30 on Federer's serve but the Swiss world number one is unfazed and serves out the game for a 3-1 lead with 13 minutes on the clock.
1538: Ah-ha, so that's solved that little mystery. Monfils is having some eye-drops applied to his left eye. There are some suggestions some of that pesky red clay may have flicked up and got in there.
Federer 2-1 Monfils
Monfils and Federer are locked at 30-30 in the third game and a big serve and long return by Federer sees the Frenchman edge 40-30 ahead. Federer takes him to deuce but Monfils gets his first points on the board. And that's a morale-boosting hold for the Frenchman.
Federer 2-0 Monfils
Federer holds to 15 and it looks like there are a few problems for Monfils out there. The 21-year-old keeps rubbing his left eye and he goes to the chair again to ask for assistance.
"How on earth did Monfils need a comfort break? Did he forget to 'go' before he came out?? Talk about lack of preparation..."
Stueym on 606
Federer 1-0 Monfils
Oh dear, a bit of a nervous starts for Monfils as he hands Federer three break points. The Parisien lets out a gasp as he concedes an early break and tamely too.
1528: Monfils disappeared for an early comfort break but he's back out on court now and is ready to serve.
1525: A pretty decent reception for Monfils from the French crowd. He is the first Frenchman to reach the semi-finals since 2001, you know. But Roger needn't feel too lonely out there as his Mum and Dad, Robert and Lynette, are in Paris to see him.
1522: "Monfils is the only person who can beat Nadal now. Fed-Ex has tried on two occasions and failed."
IDidNotZee on 606
1518: The sound of the ball pinging across the net like a horse with only one hoof signals that the players are out warming up.
1510: So Rafa Nadal's made it four in a row and is into the French Open final now old rival Roger Federer and cheeky Frenchman Gael Monfils will battle it out to meet him there.
World number one Federer holds a 3-0 head-to-head record over the unseeded Parisien.
But Federer's form has been patchy this season because of the lingering effects of a virus so there's every chance Monfils could 'Do a Tsonga' and cause a major shock.
Unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga upset the odds by reaching this year's Australian Open final where he lost to Novak Djokovic.
Can Monfils do likewise in his home city of Paris or will Federer prove too strong?Join the debate on 606
(BBC)
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