By Ricky Dimon
Roger Federer’s first clay-court tournament almost came to an end on Thursday, but he had other ideas.
The 37-year-old Swiss saved two match points to outlast Gael Monfils 6-0, 4-6, 7-6(3) and reach the quarterfinals of the Mutua Madrid Open. Federer fought them off serving at 5-6 in the final set before dominating the ensuing tiebreaker. The world No. 3 booked a spot alongside Dominic Thiem in the last eight after exactly two hours of play.
“Gaël did a nice job of not being frustrated after losing the first set, as he did the day before (6-1 to Marton Fucsovics),” Federer noted. “I had a tough run of losing five games in a row, but I hung in there after I saved match point (by) serve-and-volleying on second serve. Gael helped me out with a few double-faults. I’m very, very pleased.”
The 20-time Grand Slam champion is joined in the quarters by the other two members of the proverbial big three. Novak Djokovic took care of business against Jeremy Chardy via a 6-1, 7-6(2) decision, while Rafael Nadal defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 6-4.
Next up for Djokovic is a 20th career contest against Marin Cilic. Nadal is facing familiar foe Stan Wawrinka.
Draw
Novak Djokovic…..d. Fritz…..d. Chardy
Marin Cilic…..d. Klizan…..d. Struff…..d. Djere
Roger Federer…..d. Gasquet…..d. Monfils
Dominic Thiem…..d. Opelka…..d. Fognini
Stefanos Tsitsipas…..d. Mannarino…..d. VerdascoAlexander Zverev…..d. Ferrer…..d. Hurkacz
Stan Wawrinka…..d. Herbert…..d. Pella…..d. Nishikori
Rafael Nadal…..d. Auger-Aliassime…..d. Tiafoe
Seeds
1. Novak Djokovic: vs. Cilic in QF
2. Rafael Nadal: vs. Wawrinka in QF
3. Alexander Zverev: vs. Tsitsipas in QF
4. Roger Federer: vs. Thiem in QF
5. Dominic Thiem: vs. Federer in QF6. Kei Nishikori: l. to Wawrinka in R3
7. Juan Martin Del Potro: l. to Djere in R2
8. Stefanos Tsitsipas: vs. Zverev in QF
9. Marin Cilic: vs. Djokovic in QF
10. Fabio Fognini: l. to Thiem in R3
11. Karen Khachanov: l. to Verdasco in R2
12. Daniil Medvedev: l. to Pella in R1
13. Borna Coric: l. to Pouille in R1
14. Nikoloz Basilashvili: l. to Tiafoe in R1
15. Gael Monfils: l. to Federer in R3
16. Marco Cecchinato: l. to Schwartzman in R1
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.