Monfils advances to Open de Sud semifinal against Gasquet
MONTPELLIER, France (AP) Defending champion Gael Monfils needed three sets to see off Belgian qualifier Steve Darcis in the Open Sud de France quarterfinals on Friday, winning 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 to set up an all-French semifinal against Richard Gasquet.
Top-seeded Monfils outscored Darcis 10-0 in aces and saved three of four break-point chances.
The fourth-seeded Gasquet had it easier, breaking sixth-seeded Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan's serve once in each set in a 6-3, 6-4 win. Gasquet is bidding for his third straight Montpellier final, having lost to Monfils last year and winning it in 2013.
Meanwhile, fifth-seeded Jerzy Janowicz of Poland downed No. 2 Gilles Simon of France 6-2, 7-5 to set up a semifinal against No. 7 Joao Sousa of Portugal, who beat No. 3 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany 7-6 (5), 6-4.
