Tennis: Monfils, Stepanek advance to final

WASHINGTON: French top-seed Gael Monfils saved a match point and edged John Isner 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 in a rain-disrupted match to reach the final of the ATP Washington Classic. “I’m very happy,” said Monfils. “It’s not finished, but almost a great achievement.” Meanwhile, 54th-ranked Czech Radek Stepanek, ousted American Donald Young 6-3, 6-3, in the other semi-final. Stepanek has dropped five of seven meetings with Monfils, including their most recent clash two weeks ago on Hamburg clay. “He’s moving incredibly well,” said Stepanek. “He’s a great shotmaker.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 8^th, 2011.