A semifinal spot will be at stake when Roger Federer goes up against Gael Monfils on Thursday at the U.S. Open. Tomas Berdych and Marin Cilic also have a huge opportunity ahead of them in New York.

(20) Gael Monfils vs. (2) Roger Federer

Federer and Monfils will be facing each other for the 10th time in their careers and for the second time this summer when they collide in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open on Thursday night. A recent Cincinnati showdown went Federer’s way 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 as the Swiss improved to 7-2 lifetime in the head-to-head series. Interestingly, Federer has actually fared better against Monfils on clay (4-0) than on hard courts (3-2). They have squared off three times at Grand Slams–all at the French Open–and Federer is a perfect 3-0.

Monfils, though, is arguably playing the best and most focused tennis of his life this fortnight…