2014 US Open Tennis Day 11 Results, Scores, Highlights: Roger Federer Rallies to Beat Gael Monfils to Reach Semis

By Paul John Rivera First Posted: Sep 05, 2014 09:43 AM EDT

Roger Federer scored a come-from-behind victory over Gael Monfils in their 2014 U.S. Open tennis quarterfinal showdown on Thursday at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Federer moved one step closer to winning his 18th Grand Slam title after erasing a two-set deficit to escape with a 4-6, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5, 6-2 victory to advance to the semifinals of the U.S. Open for the first time since 2011.

Monfils, who was eyeing a second semifinal appearance in a Grand Slam event, looked poise to score an upset after comfortably taking the first two sets before Federer won the third.

The 20th-seeded player also went 5-4 ahead in the fourth set and had two match points, but Federer saved both to take the set, gaining enough confidence to dominate the fifth set en route to the win.

"When I was down two match points, that's when I wasn't feeling so great anymore," Federer said via the tournament's official website. "I thought: 'This is it. This is the last point, man. Just go down fighting, don't miss an easy shot and let him have it.' But I stayed in the match and somehow turned it around."

With the victory, Federer, who is also eyeing his sixth title at Flushing Meadows, will advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Open for the ninth time in his career.

Federer will face Marin Cilic of Croatia in the semifinals after the No. 14 seed scored a 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) upset victory against Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic earlier in the day.

"I feel I'm playing probably the best tennis of my career," Cilic said after the match. "I think what helped me also was the consistent play over last five, six months. This year I haven't lost too many matches against guys who are lower ranked than me. That's always very positive."

In other matches, Martina Hingis and Flavia Pennetta advanced to the women's doubles final after scoring a 6-2, 6-4 win against Cara Black and Sania Mirza in their semifinal match.

Hingis and Pennetta will go up against Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina after the Russian pair won against Kimiko Date-Krumm and Barbora Zahlavova Strycova.