Federer to face Nadal in French Open final

“With all the respect I have for a player of his level, I have to say he got off to a really bad start,” said Federer, who is hoping to get his hands on the Musketeers’ Cup for the first time by ending triple champion Rafael Nadal’s reign on Sunday.

“Then he put me under pressure and played better. I felt he could win the fourth set and I did not want to go for a fifth, especially with the crowd backing him.”

“There was a lot of pressure.”

The 12-times grand slam winner attacked the net to pile up the pressure on the Frenchman, sealing the win with a backhand volley.

Federer added he was not surprised by Monfils’s bold challenge.

TOUGH PLAYER

The 21-year-old, a former boy’s winner here, became the third player this fortnight to take a set off Federer with his unconventional playing style, which at times rattled the Swiss master.

But in the end Monfils, who was hoping to become the first Frenchman to reach the Roland Garros final since Henri Leconte in 1988, did not possess the big-match temperament to cross the finishing line first.

“I knew he was a tough player, with a big serve and very hard to outrun on the court,” said Federer, who was runner-up to Nadal here for the past two years.

“I was lucky enough to have played him in Miami and Monaco, so I played him just recently and I could see how well he was playing, actually.

“I didn’t have easy matches against him. He plays from really far back in the court. He has a fantastic serve and great athletic abilities, so I knew that part was going to happen.

“It’s exactly the way I imagined the match to go. I had to be the one leading, taking the chances and mixing up my game, and I think I did it very well today.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t win the second set after being up a set and a break. So it was tough but I think it was always me who was in control of the match. It was fun. I had a great time.”

However, Federer knows he will have to be on top of his game if he is to defeat Nadal.

The Spaniard has never lost a match at Roland Garros since making his debut in 2005 and has yet to drop a set in this year’s campaign.

“He was very impressive against Djokovic today,” said the Swiss, who watched Nadal’s 6-4 6-2 7-6 victory over Serb Novak Djokovic before stepping on to Centre Court.

“But I have improved since 2005 and in the end it (the title) will go to the one who has the better day.

“Anyway, it’s entertaining to have the same top players challenging each others again and again.”