Thursday 4 September 2014 23:43, UK
Roger Federer will be aiming to reach the US Open semi-finals for the first time in three years when he faces Gael Monfils at Flushing Meadows on Thursday.
Federer reached the last four on eight straight occasions between 2004 and 2011 but has crashed out earlier than expected in each of the last two years.
The five-time champion will be involved in another night session clash at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with Gael Monfils his opponent at the quarter-final stage.
Federer has a comfortable 7-2 lead against the Frenchman in the head-to-head stakes, although Monfils did defeat the Swiss legend under a year ago at the Shanghai Masters.
The other men’s quarter-final on Thursday sees sixth seed Tomas Berdych take on Marin Cilic at around 6.30pm UK time on Arthur Ashe. The winner will take on Federer or Monfils in the last four.
The two also met at Wimbledon earlier in the summer, with Cilic winning in straight sets in a memorable contest which ended in near-darkness.
Berdych does lead 5-3 overall in the head-to-head comparison, although the clash at the All England Club is the only time they have ever met in a grand slam.
No other singles matches take place on Thursday, with the afternoon session at Arthur Ashe Stadium starting with a men’s doubles semi-final between the Bryan brothers and their fellow Americans Scott Lipsky and Rajeev Ram.
The night session opens with an exhibition doubles match featuring James Blake and John McEnroe, who take on Jim Courier and Mats Wilander.
