Roger Federer has reached the U.S. Open semifinals for the first time since 2011, but he sure had to do it the hard way. Federer saved two match points and rallied from two sets down to defeat enigmatic Frenchman Gael Monfils 4-6 3-6 6-4 7-5 6-2 in a late-night thriller in New York. The two played in Cincinnati just a few weeks ago and Monfils stretched Federer to a deciding third set. He was even closer to upsetting the 17-time grand slam champion under the lights at Arthur Ashe Stadium on Thursday, holding two match points on Federer's serve at 5-4 in the fourth.
@highlight
Roger Federer rallies from two sets down to beat Gael Monfils in New York
@highlight
Monfils held two match points on Federer's serve at 5-4 in the fourth set
@highlight
The Swiss next meets resurgent Croatian Marin Cilic in the semifinals
@highlight
Serena Williams plays Ekaterina Makarova in the women's semifinals Friday
Roger Federer
Federer
Federer
Federer
Roger Federer
Federer
He double faulted twice to drop serve in the next game, @placeholder held to claim the set and the 33-year-old then cruised in a quick fifth set.
Roger Federer
Federer
Federer
Federer
Roger Federer
Federer
"I got off to a good start, so I was actually feeling alright, but then when I was down two match points, that's when I wasn't feeling so great anymore," @placeholder, 28-1 in night session matches at the U.S. Open, said on court afterwards.
U.S. Open
"I got off to a good start, so I was actually feeling alright, but then when I was down two match points, that's when I wasn't feeling so great anymore," Federer, 28-1 in night session matches at the @placeholder, said on court afterwards.