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Tenth-seeded Gael Monfils continued his impressive run at the U.S. Open by breezing past French countryman Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 in the quarterfinals in New York on Tuesday. Monfils has yet to lose a set in the tournament as the one-time flamboyant showman has taken a more serious approach to his matches recently.
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The 30-year-old Monfils reached the semifinals of a Grand Slam event for the first time since his 2008 run in the French Open.
Pouille had won three five-set matches, including an upset of fifth-seeded Rafael Nadal, to reach the quarterfinals. The 22-year-old, however, was no match for Monfils, who dismisses Pouille in just over two hours.
Monfils has been all business at the U.S. Open, using his speed and power to brush aside opponents.
Monfils' familiarity with Pouille helped him in the quarters.
"I know him quite a bit," Monfils said. "He was maybe a little bit flat today."
After 19 sets and more than 12 hours on court, Pouille couldn't muster the same kind of energy against Monfils that he had in earlier matches.
"Yeah, I'm happy with my performance," Monfils said. "I think it is never easy to play a quarterfinal against a French guy, you know. I think I handled it pretty good mentally and 'tennistically'. I'm happy with that and where my game is."
Monfils' semifinal opponent will be the winner of Tuesday's late match between top-ranked Novak Djokovic and ninth-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, another Frenchman.
A win in the semifinals would put Monfils into the finals of a Grand Slam singles event for the first time.
When asked whether he is more serious about his game these days, Monfils disputed the notion that he was ever just a showman.
"If I do a trick shot, one, and still kill it, you will say, I'm a showman. So, you know, this one, with all the respect to everyone, is you guys to put me on the spot, he said. "Today, I think I haven't the chance to do it, but Lucas, hit two good tweeners. I don't think you will tell him he tried to entertain."
