French Open 2011, Day 10: Roger Federer Wins In Straight Sets; Andy Murray In Five

French Open 2011 results from Day 10 at Roland Garros, where Roger Federer advanced in straight sets and is still, somehow, an afterthought.

• No. 3 Roger Federer def. No. 9 Gael Monfils, 6-4 6-3 7-6(3).

Federer finally merits a match on Court Philippe Chatrier, and hasn’t dropped a set in Paris this entire tourney, but if he does, don’t forget, it’s because of his hot wife and kids! Will meet No. 2 Novak Djokovic, who you may have heard is on a bit of a hot streak, in the semis. (Didn’t see Djoko’s quarters play? No, you didn’t. The fantabulously-named Fabio Fognini game him a walkover thanks to a thigh injury. Like he needs the help right now. Federer brushed off the implications of this in his post-match presser, reminding the audience he’s faced a similar situation at Wimbledon, where he seems to do all right.)

Roger Federer def. Gael Monfils, 6-4 6-3 7-6(3). On a day marked with nasty winds at the French Open 2011, Federer conquered the elements and the always-frenetic play of Monfils to advance to 48-11 in the Paris Slam -- and to the enticement of the tourney thus far, a semifinals matchup with No. 2 Novak Djokovic. As he bounced to the net for a handshake and hug with a trudging Monfils and tossed his headband to the crowd, Federer looked as ready as anyone staring down the Serbian buzzsaw could possibly be expected to appear.

It took all of four games of the first set of the quarterfinals match between the World Nos. 3 and 9 for Tennis Channel commentators to begin hinting in hushed tones at the popular, exhausting trope that Roger Federer’s selfish permission to allow a wife and twin daughters into his life is clearly affecting his robotic precision on the court. Why this persists, besides Federer’s temerity to drop to the third ranking, is anyone’s guess, because the men’s quarterfinals at Roland Garros are half over, and the 2009 champ is the only player remaining in the draw not to have dropped one single set.

Andy Murray def. Viktor Troicki, 4-6 4-6 6-3 6-2 7-5. Suffering from a torn ankle tendon in addition to the groin strain he sustained during a warmup match at Roland Garros, saying he had “more pills in me right now than Ozzy Osbourne,” the much-maligned World No. 4 is through to the quarterfinals at the French Open 2011. It’s relatively unfamiliar territory for the Scot, who’s played in just four previous tournaments here, and reached the quarters just once, in 2009.

Murray first battled back from a two-set deficit on Court Suzanne Lenglen to tie the match at two-all before the Monday match was suspended due to darkness, and came perilously close to blowing triple match point before sending a howler past Troicki’s left foot to advance.