Gael Monfils plays down despair after loss to Federer at US Open

Frenchman loses in quarter-finals after being two sets up as No 2 seed goes through to meet Marin Cilic in Saturday's semi-final.

Gael Monfils let slip two match points which would have given him a win over the Roger Federer in the US Open quarter-finals, but played down any despair as he said "It's cool".
The Frenchman went down 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 to the 17-time grand slam champion after seeing two match points go to waste in the 10th game of the fourth set as Federer reached his ninth US Open semi-final to stay on course for a sixth title.
Federer, 33, the No 2 seed, bidding to become the oldest winner of a major title in more than 40 years, was staring down the barrel of a demoralising exit when 20th seed Monfils had him on the ropes.
But once he had averted the danger, Federer then swept past the exhausted Monfils in the final set.
"I think it was cool. I think he hit two big serves and a good forehand volley and then a good forehand down the line. I think, you know, I did my best, so it was OK," said Monfils, 28, who had been bidding to make just his second semi-final at a major after a run to the French Open last four in 2008.
"Then he played good. He had the set. Then physically I had a drop, five minutes. It came quick. He started to be very offensive. So then it was very tough to handle."
Monfils had roared into a two-sets lead, firing winners off both flanks as Federer tried and failed to convert break points.
He even berated umpire Carlos Ramos for his officiating telling him that he did not know what was wrong with him before an uncharacteristic bout of petulance saw him chop his racquet into the net.
Monfils admitted that the Swiss was able to adapt to the impending crisis, a tactic which has served him well down the years of his storied career.
"That's why he's Roger Federer, because he change so many times. He starts with chipping very low. I think I handled it good. So then he stick with longer points. It was 50-50, and then he try to come to the net very often," said Monfils when asked to analyse the tactics.
"It was a bit better for him. Then suddenly he started to mix everything. That's why he's the greatest player, because he can do everything."
The victory was Federer's 26th in 27 night-time matches in New York and put him just one win away from a career 600 victories on hard courts, a landmark he can reach if he defeats Marin Cilic to make the final on Saturday.
Croatian 14th seed Cilic toppled sixth-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 earlier on Thursday to reach his first US Open semi-final.
Federer's win was his ninth from two sets to love down and first at a major since he had to engineer a similar Houdini act against another Frenchman, Julien Benneteau, at Wimbledon in 2012 on his way to his 17th and most recent major title.
"Gael played great tennis but even when I was two sets down I knew the finish line was still far away for him," said Federer after the three-hour 20-minute duel put him in his first semi-final since 2011.
"I knew I could play better tennis but on match point I wasn't feeling so great anymore.
"I just thought this could be the last point, don't give it away on an easy shot, make him work for it."
Federer added later: "Saving match points against Gael in an atmosphere that it was out here tonight, it's definitely very special. The rallies were incredible at times, and my game really picked up. I served great in the fifth when it mattered."
The other men's semi-final on Saturday sees 2011 champion Novak Djokovic go up against Kei Nishikori.