A Comfortable Victory

    It was another easy victory for Roger Federer in the French Open quarterfinals against Gael Monfils. Monfils walked on to the courts with some heavily bandaged fingers which were later revealed in an injury timeout to be blisters, and he walked off the court two hours later having lost in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6.

      In the first set Monfils started off ahead early 3-1 until Federer started getting into a rhythm and broke him twice wining 6-4. In the second set Federer pulled ahead early and Monfils just could not seem to stay focused. Some points he looked like the amazing player that he is and other points he could not stay in with the tennis legend. Monfils's service game was not at all impressive during the match. Serving at about 65% of first serves it might seem like he was getting the job done. But he hit 11 double faults, a total of almost four games given to Roger Federer. While Federer was only hitting 53% of his first serves, he only double faulted 3 times. Monfils was not effective enough with his second serve and that lead to his double faults, giving away almost four games is handing two thirds of a set to Federer.
   
    It was not only a story of serves, Federer played most of his game from the baseline coming to net 26 times during the set. There was no serve and volley tactics that Federer has started to use on the faster courts. Federer won 77% of points on his first serve and 61% on his second serve. While Monfils won 62% on his first serve and 41% on his second.
    Federer is now through to the semi-finals where he will have to face Novak Djokovic. It will truly be a battle of the titans, with Nadal, Murray, Federer, and Djokovic in the semi-finals.