Frenchman Monfils struck a backhand long to squander his first chance to claim victory and then Federer denied the 20th seed with a sizzling forehand winner to stay in the match. From that point on, Federer took charge by holding serve for 5-5, closing out the fourth set and then breaking Monfils in the first game of the fifth. Playing at his brilliant best after scattering unforced errors earlier in the match, the Swiss master took nine of the last 11 games in the three-hour 20-minute clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
