2014 U.S. Open bracket update: Roger Federer rallies to advance

No. 20 Gael Monfils’ upset bid against second-seeded Roger Federer in the quarterfinals of the 2014 U.S. Open fell short when the Swiss legend rallied for a 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 win on Thursday.

Monfils, who entered the match having won every one of his sets in the tournament, jumped on Federer early by taking the first two sets. Federer bounced back to take the third set and jumped out to an early lead in the fourth. Then Monfils stormed back to win consecutive games, including one that featured a 137 mph serve and a lot of hustle.

Monfils and Federer went back and forth from there, including a thrilling 10th game in which Federer won four consecutive points with his back against the wall. That gave the 33-year-old Swiss star momentum; he won each of the next two games to even the match at two sets apiece before dominating the fifth and final set.

Federer will face No. 14 Marin Cilic, who knocked off sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych in the early men’s singles match at Arthur Ashe Stadium, in the semifinals.

Cilic faced a little bit of late adversity but ultimately cruised to a 2-6, 4-6, 6-7 (4-7) win en route to his second semifinal appearance, and first since the 2010 Australian Open. Berdych fought back hard in the final set but was undone by a perceived bad call, after which he proceeded to ask chair umpire Louise Azemar Engzell if she has “ever had a racket in [her] hand.”

An updated men’s singles bracket can be viewed here.

Martina Hingis and Flavia Pennetta def. No. 3 Cara Black and Sania Mirza, 6-2, 6-4
No. 4 Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina def. Kimiko Date-Krumm and Barbora Strycova, 7-5, 6-3

No. 11 Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez def. No. 4 Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo, 6-4, 6-4
No. 1 Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan def. No. 3 Scott Lipsky and Rajeev Ram, 6-4, 4-6, 4-3

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