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Serbian third seed Novak Djokovic advanced to a US Open quarter-final against revenge-minded Frenchman Gael Monfils on Monday by defeating US 19th seed Mardy Fish 6-3 6-4 6-1.
Djokovic, the 2008 Australian Open champion, will seek a fourth consecutive US Open semi-final berth when he faces 17th seed Gael Monfils, who ousted countryman Richard Gasquet 6-4 7-5 7-5.
“I’m really happy with the way I played, definitely a lot of confidence,” Djokovic said. “It’s great to raise the level as we go on in the tournament.”
Monfils is 0-4 against Djokovic but pushed him to five sets in round one of the 2005 US Open, to three sets at the 2008 Beijing Olympic quarter-finals and into a third-set tie-breaker before dropping last year’s Paris indoor final.
“I have revenge to take. He won against me at home,” Monfils said. “This time I hope to win.”
Djokovic was the 2007 US Open runner-up and lost in the semi-finals the past two years, all three defeats coming to 16-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer, a potential semi-final opponent again this year.
Swiss second seed Federer, seeking his sixth US Open title and seventh final in a row, was set to face Austrian 13th seed Jurgen Melzer in a night match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Swedish fifth seed Robin Soderling also was to face 21st seed Albert Montanes of Spain in a later match.
Fish surrendered two early breaks to drop the first set and another in the fifth game of the second set, but responded in the next game by earning three break points, only to see Djokovic save them all and hold to 4-2.
Djokovic held twice more to claim the second set and broke Fish to open the third set, then again in the fifth game and seventh games to end matters after one hour and 50 minutes.
“Whenever I had a chance I used it,” Djokovic said. “I was returning really well, making him play an extra shot, and I was serving well.”
Monfils became the first Frenchman in the last eight on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts since Arnaud Clement in 2000.
The only prior Slam quarter-finals for Monfils were in a 2008 semi-final and 2009 last-eight French Open runs, each ended by Federer.
“For me it’s amazing to be in front of the American crowd in the quarters,” Monfils said. “I feel really comfortable here, maybe (enough) to win here one day.”
Monfils fired 14 aces and 40 winners to advance in two hours and 35 minutes.
“My plan was to try to break him physically and break him in the head,” Monfils said. “I think I did pretty good.”
Gasquet double faulted to give Monfils the only break of the first set in the third game and surrendered a decisive break to Monfils in the penultimate game of the second set.
A forehand winner brought Gasquet a break for a 4-2 lead in the third set after he had denied Monfils on six earlier break-point chances. But after Gasquet held to 5-2, Monfils took the last five games for the victory.
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