MELBOURNE, Australia – Gael Monfils had a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Andrei Kuznetsov to reach the quarterfinals for the first time in 11 trips to the Australian Open.
The No. 23-seeded Monfils, a semifinalist at the 2008 French Open, delighted the Margaret Court Arena crowd with his lunging, leaping style of play.
He said it hurts somethings landing on the hard courts as he chases balls other players would leave, adding "Maybe something snaps in my mind, and I just go for it ... I just fly."
He will play the winner of the fourth-round match between fourth-seeded Stan Wawrinka and No. 13 Milos Raonic.