French second-seed Gael Monfils will face Australian Nick Kyrgios in the Japan Open semi-finals, after he beat Croatian seventh-seed Ivo Karlovic yesterday. Fourth-seed Marin Cilic defeated Juan Monaco 7-5, 6-1 and is now pitted against Belgian fifth-seed David Goffin. Monfils pulled off a nail-biting 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (8/6) win against Karlovic, with both men landing nine aces in their 91-minute contest.
Monfils, a runner-up at the Japan Open’s 2010 edition, is now set to play Kyrgios, who comfortably fended off a challenge from Gilles Muller of Luxembourg 6-4, 6-2. “I thought I played great today,” Kyrgios said. “I served well, returned well and my engagement level was really good the whole time.”
Croatian Cilic meanwhile will play Goffin in the semifinal, with the Belgian having won their two previous meetings this year. Goffin came from behind to beat Joao Sousa of Portugal 1-6, 7-5 and 6-2 in their quarter-final match. “It was not easy. From the beginning of the match, I was feeling a little bit nervous, a little bit sleepy also,” Goffin said. “I was struggling a little bit with my foot work. Then I started to play much better, more aggressive from the start of the second set,” he said. “In the third set, I played my best tennis,” he said.
Goffin said was eager to advance to the final, but would be focusing on the semifinal against Cilic for now. “I will have a tough match tomorrow,” he said.  
The four men’s march toward the Tokyo trophy came as their big-name rivals pulled out due to injuries.
Defending champion and US Open winner Stan Wawrinka did not take part in the Tokyo event over back trouble, while local favourite Kei Nishikori, winner in 2014 and 2012, could not finish his second-round match Wednesday because of muscle strain.
Injuries also forced Argentina’s Juan Martin Del Potro, Japan Open winner in 2013, to skip the tournament after receiving an invitation to join as a wildcard.
Results
Men’s Singles quarter-final: 2-Gael Monfils (France) beat 7-Ivo Karlovic (Croatia) 7-6(6) 7-6(6) 6-Nick Kyrgios (Australia) beat Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) 6-4 6-2 4-Marin Cilic (Croatia) beat Juan Monaco (Argentina) 7-5 6-1 5-David Goffin (Belgium) beat Joao Sousa (Portugal) 1-6 7-5 6-2

FFT back in court as Roland Garros work halted again
The French Tennis Federation (FFT) said yesterday they will return to court after the expansion of Roland Garros, the historic but cramped home of the French Open, suffered its latest legal blow.
In the latest setback to the long-running saga involving the 400-million-euro ($448mn) redevelopment of the site in the plush western sector of Paris, the Tribunal de Grande Instance (TGI) on Thursday ordered an interim suspension.
The Paris High Court’s ruling came just three days after a different court had given the green light. Jeremy Botton, CEO of the FFT told AFP they would be returning to the TGI in a bid to have the decision overturned. “We hope to be heard very soon, early next week,” said Botton.
On Monday, the French Conseil d’Etat (Council of State) overturned a March ruling that blocked development of a new 5,000-seat stadium in the Serres d’Auteuil due to protests over the impact the work would have on the botanical garden’s historic greenhouses which date back to the 19th century.
It was the heirs of the architect of the greenhouses, Jean-Camille Formige, who successfully sought the latest stoppage to the work with the TGI ruling that the Council of State had breached an earlier legal judgement.
“Our goal is to block the works. If everything is destroyed, our actions have no sense,” Philippe Zagury, the lawyer of the Formige descendents, told AFP.
Since Monday, work had already started on some demolition as well as tree-felling at the Serres d’Auteuil.