October 11, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
Defending Shanghai Rolex Masters champion and top-seeded Novak Djokovic defeated Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4 to advance to the Shanghai semifinals on Friday. Djokovic ups his record in 2013 to 60-9, as he moves on to face another Frenchman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Djokovic holds a 10-5 lifetime record over Tsonga, and is on a six-match winning streak against him.
"It was a tough match today, a tough battle," said Monfils. "I’m still happy. I haven’t practiced much before here. To come here [and play] strong was good. He is one of the best players in the world, and I have no shame today … I’m already looking forward for 2014."
Tsonga defeated Florian Mayer 6-2, 6-3 in a little over an hour to advance to the semis. With the win, Tsonga moved to within 135 points of eighth placed Roger Federer in the Emirates ATP Race To London after the Frenchman advanced to the Shanghai Rolex Masters semi-finals on Friday.
Tsonga, who finished runner-up to Federer at the 2011 Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, is bidding to qualify for the Finals for the fourth time. Tsonga has 3,010 points, while Federer has 3,145 points in the battle to clinch one of five remaining berths. He could add another 180 points to his total if he reaches the finals in Shanghai.
