Monfils delivers, outduels Gasquet

Monday's fourth-round match between Gael Monfils and Richard Gasquet had all the elements for a phenomenal contest. The last two remaining French players in the men's draw were both vying for their first-ever appearance in the US Open quarterfinals, and both had all the tools for exceptional shotmaking -- one as a tireless baseliner, the other as a persistent serve-and-volleyer with a fierce and beautiful one-handed backhand.

In front of a capacity crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Monfils and Gasquet delivered a performance that met all expectations. But it was the No. 17 seed Monfils, the defensive baseline grinder, who countered Gasquet's attacks and broke into the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 7-5, 7-5 victory.

Gasquet started the match defensively, a strategy that proved costly as his countryman took advantage of the baseline rallies. A double fault gave Monfils a quick break for a 3-1 lead. Realizing he wasn't going to win baseline points, Gasquet tested the waters by coming in to the net. Although he was successful, it was too late for him to gain control of the set, and Monfils closed it out at 6-4.

A string of unforced errors gave Monfils the break to start the second set. Each time Gasquet came to the net, he couldn't put the ball away, and Monfils was getting everything back, forcing his opponent to make errors. But soon Gasquet found a rhythm, began stepping inside the baseline and took advantage of opportunities to move toward the net. He pushed Monfils back by hitting deep shots that had him scrambling behind the line, falling to ground at one point. Gasquet's efforts paid off and he was able to break and get back on serve at 3-3.

With Gasquet serving at 5-5, Monfils held a 40-15 advantage before Gasquet took it to deuce. On break point, Gasquet looked to be in control when he hit an angled crosscourt forehand that sent Monfils back into the corner, but a screaming forehand passing shot found the court and gave the fired-up Monfils the break. An easy hold on his own serve gave him a two-set lead.

In the third set, Gasquet led 3-2, 40-30 on Monfils's serve. Gasquet delivered a driving angled crosscourt forehand, again leaving Monfils laid out on the court, and when he didn't immediately get up, both the crowd and Gasquet thought he had injured his ankle. As Monfils walked over to his chair, appearing to have called the trainer, Gasquet prepared to sit down as well. But with a dramatic atmosphere building, and just as Gasquet was about to sit down, the chair umpire announced, "Ladies and gentleman, Mr. Monfils is (dramatic pause) changing his shoes," to which the crowd and Gasquet began laughing. Gasquet came back and earned the break with a service return winner.

Three games later, Monfils broke back with an inside-out forehand return down the line to get back on serve and even it at 5-5. The No. 17 seed earned yet another break for a 6-5 edge, as Gasquet committed unforced errors, and a 130-mph ace from Monfils closed the match.

Monfils will next face either Mardy Fish or Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals.