Updates: Federer vs. Monfils In Third Set

Roger Federer historic bid for a 1,200th match win has entered a third set on Thursday against Gael Monfils at the Mutua Madrid Open. Three-time former champion Federer swept through the first set 6-0, but Monfils sparked into life to clinch a dramatic second set 6-4.

The winner will play fifth-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem, runner-up at the ATP Masters 1000 event for the past two years.

Fourth seed Federer recovered from 15/40 in his first service game, and by the end of the 18-minute first set had struck seven winners.

The crowd, desperate to see a contest, was rewarded in the second set when Monfils sparked into life after holding serve — with an almighty roar — in the first game. The greater weight of shot helped Monfils to break Federer with a forehand winner en route to a 3-0 lead.

Two consecutive double faults cost Monfils at 4-3 and gifted Federer a way back into the pair’s 14th encounter. Monfils’ game faltered considerably, but he kept in control to save a break point with a serve and volley winner at 4-4, 30/40 and, in the following game, clinched the set when Federer hit a forehand long.

Earlier on Thursday afternoon, Thiem pushed his winning streak to seven matches by beating Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters champion Fabio Fognini 6-4, 7-5 to reach the last eight at the Caja Magica.