Federer Back On Track; Reaches QFs

ATP World No. 1 Roger Federer erased memories of his shaky opening-round win with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Gael Monfils Thursday to reach the Masters Series Monte-Carlo quarterfinals.

Federer came within two points of defeat against Spanish qualifier Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo in his opening-round match Wednesday, eventually escaping 7-6 in the third set. But Federer was in much better form against Monfils, dropping serve just once on the lone beak point he faced in the match and winning a stunning 81 percent of points on his second serve. Federer, who last week won his first title of the year in Estoril under the watchful eye of new coach Jose Higueras, is now on a seven-match clay-court winning streak.

"It definitely was a good, tough match from my side... My forehand worked well today," Federer said. "And I was just happy, after yesterday, playing so well... I definitely made some errors yesterday which I shouldn't have. But today was fine again. It's good I reacted so well after yesterday's tough match.

"I was sort of relieved I got through. And then important I think was to analyze what happened, yesterday, just sort of the good things, the bad things, the end, why could I turn around the match. Sort of stuff like this, it was important to go through that... It was an interesting 24 hours for me."

Monfils said poor decisions proved costly. "I started off well. I was aggressive and then, I don't know, I changed," the Frenchman said. I was watching him playing instead of staying aggressive or very dynamic... I was trying too much to run around my backhand and playing forehands instead of staying more simple and using my backhand. This opened wide angles for him, and it was easier."

Federer next meets arch rival David Nalbandian, who crushed Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-1, 6-0. The Argentine won 24 of 26 points on his first serve and saved all three break points he faced. Nalbandian is one of very few players not to have a negative head-to-head record against 12-time Grand Slam champion Federer. At the end of last season Nalbandian beat Federer twice in three weeks en route to back-to-back ATP Masters Series titles in Madrid and Paris. The players are tied at 8-8 in career meetings, with Federer leading 2-1 on clay.

Novak Djokovic again had all the answers to Andy Murray's game, dismissing the Scot 6-0, 6-4. Playing his first clay court tournament of the year, Djokovic saved four of five break points he faced while breaking Murray five times.

The World No. 3 Serb beat Murray 6-1, 6-0 in their most recent meeting in the Miami semifinals in 2007 and also beat Murray 6-2, 6-3 at Indian Wells in 2007.

Djokovic, who is chasing his fourth different ATP Masters Series crown (he's already won Indian Wells, Miami and Canada), improved to a 19-4 record on the season.

"I'm very, very, very happy and satisfied with my performance, especially in the first set," Djokovic said. I managed to keep the control of the match, be patient, but aggressive at the same time... I had a feeling that he was a bit too passive throughout the match. He was not taking his chances. So I used mine when I got them."

Big-serving American Sam Querrey continued his stunning run, upsetting No.7 seed Richard Gasquet 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. Querrey, who won just one of six matches on clay last year, fired 11 aces and saved eight of 10 break points faced.

Watch more Masters Series Monte-Carlo video, including live match action, at ATP Masters Series TV.