US Open 2014: Roger Federer vs Gael Monfils match preview

A look ahead to the quarter-final match in the men’s singles

Roger Federer at the 2014 US Open. (Mike Stobe | Getty Images for USTA)

Out of the three Frenchmen who reached the second week of the competition at Flushing Meadows, Gael Monfils was the least likely to last the longest. However, it is the eccentric world No. 24 who will face Roger Federer in the quarter-finals.

Monfils got to his second US Open quarter-final in style, without dropping a set and beating higher seeds like Grigor Dimitrov and Richard Gasquet. The Frenchman has a 100% winning ratio at Arthur Ashe Stadium where he will take on the Swiss maestro in the quarter-finals.

Not even the great Federer has had an easier route to the quarter-finals than the Frenchman, after the Swiss was forced into two four-set encounters in the first and third rounds. Nevertheless, Federer does have the upper edge over Monfils leading the head-to-head count 7-2, while also winning their recent encounter in Cincinnati.

If Monfils comes out victorious from his quarter-final encounter with Federer, he will match his previous best effort in a Grand Slam when he reached the semi-final of the French Open in 2008. In comparison, his Swiss counterpart has not reached the semi-final of the US Open since 2011.

The winner will play either Tomas Berdych or Marin Cilic in the semi finals.

Start: Friday, Arthur Ashe Stadium, Last game of Thursday’s evening session

PAST MEETINGS…

2014 – Cincinnati (Hard) Federer won 6-4, 4-6, 6-3

2013 – Shanghai (Hard) Monfils won 6-4, 6-7, 6-3

2011 – Roland Garros (Clay) Federer won 6-4, 6-3, 7-6

STATS…

Monfils has hit 42 aces so far compared to Federer’s 40

Monfils has the joint 9 fastest serve in the tournament at 137mph; Federer doesn’t even feature in the top 18.

Federer has the third most break points won (23), to Monfils fifth most (21)

Federer has won $84,035,204 in prize money alone; twelve times more than Monfils $7,348,105.

Federer has won 74 matches at the US Open over his career; Monfils has only won 17.

Monfils has won five career titles to date, in comparison Federer has won the US Open on its own five times.

ODDS…

Federer to win 1.28

Monfils to win 4.4.

TV: Sky Sports 3