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1/7/10 4:26 PM | Ricky Dimon
Gael Monfils beats James Blake in a tight three-setter in Brisbane on Thursday evening. Next up for the No. 3 seed is a semifinal clash against defending champion Radek Stepanek.
A marquee quarterfinal matchup between Gael Monfils and James Blake did not disappoint on Thursday at the Brisbane International. Monfils came back from a set deficit to prevail 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in one hour and 43 minutes, thus setting up a semifinal showdown with No. 2 seed and 2009 Brisbane champion Radek Stepanek.
It was a high-quality encounter in which Monfils played well from start to finish. Blake, however, got off to a strong start by connecting with his huge forehand that had also been in fine form against both Sam Querrey and Marc Gicquel. The 44th-ranked American never face a break point in the first set, so one break was enough for him to seize an early advantage.
"He had a good start and was hitting the ball well," Monfils explained afterward. "I started with the wrong tactic. I was hitting the ball to his forehand and James just didn't miss."
Nonetheless, the third-seeded Frenchman soon found his groove. He served at 80 percent in the second set and even though he was broken once, he more than made up for it with two breaks of his won. Monfils helped his cause by targeting the Blake backhand and jumping all over his opponent's second serves (seven of eight second-serve return points won in set two).
The world No. 13 did not serve as well in the final frame of play, but he saved all three of the break points he face. One more scalp of Blake's serve gave Monfils a chance to close out the proceedings at 5-4. Blake saved one match point with a huge forehand and another with a forehand off the net cord, but Monfils refused to yield. A perfect forehand pass gave Monfils another opportunity and he finished it off with a booming service winner.
Monfils, improving to 2-2 lifetime against Blake, wrapped up his effort with 13 aces and four double-faults while fending off seven of nine break points. Blake struck four aces and five doubles.
Stepanek, who toppled Fernando Verdasco in last year's final, ousted Wayne Odesnik 7-6(2), 6-1 on Thursday night.
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