Monfils Returns To Washington Semi-Finals

Gael Monfils returned to some of his best tennis at the Citi Open on Friday, dazzling the Washington crowd with absurd angles and holding back a solid showing from American Sam Querrey 6-4, 3-6, 6-1. Monfils advanced to the Washington semi-finals for the third time in as many tournament appearances.

The second seeded Frenchman will face compatriot Benoit Paire or #NextGen star Alexander Zverev. Monfils lost his only previous contest against Paire and is 2-0 against Zverev.

Facing Querrey, Monfils grabbed the early advantage with a break in the seventh game to go up 4-3. The 29-year-old right-hander cruised on his serve during the first set. Querrey, though, stepped up his play and broke Monfils in the early stages of the second set and the Wimbledon quarter-finalist looked confident blasting forehands and big serves.

But Monfils took back the momentum and led 3-0 in the third set before taking the match. He last reached the Washington semi-finals the last time he played at the tournament: 2011, en route to his only Washington final (l. to Stepanek). Monfils also reached the last four in 2007 (l. to Isner).