Monfils Saves Match Point To Reach D.C. Final

© Getty ImagesStepanek will aim to collect his fifth singles title on Sunday.

Top seed Gael Monfils overcame match point against 11th-seeded John Isner, edging the American 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(6) in a rain-delayed semi-final thriller at the Legg Mason Tennis Classic on Saturday. The Frenchman will square off against Radek Stepanek in Sunday's final, after the Czech defeated Donald Young 6-3, 6-3.

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The match started one hour and 50 minutes late due to rain, and endured two interruptions during play, but when the action resumed after the second break, with Monfils leading 6-4, 2-5, Isner closed out the second set to push the encounter to a third set.

Monfils had chances to finish out the match on Isner’s serve, holding two match points in the tenth game when leading 5-4. But clutch serving from Isner denied the Frenchman, and the two would eventually battle it out in a tie-break.

Both players protected their serve well and it was Isner who had the first opportunity to close out the tie-break with a match point up 6-5. An ace from Monfils evened the score, and after holding his next serve, the World No. 7 converted the first mini-break to clinch the victory at 1:15 am local time in Washington D.C. "I have a lot of respect for John," said Monfils. "It's always a pleasure for me to play against him."

"It was a bit tough in the head... to go and then come back. The weather was like Wimbledon," declared the No. 1 seed.

Monfils advances to his first final of the season, and avenged his loss to Isner in the semi-finals at this tournament four years ago, when Isner prevailed in a final set tie-break. The win evens his head-to-head record against the 26 year old to a 3-3 mark, with all of their meetings coming on hard courts.

In Sunday’s championship, the Frenchman will face Stepanek. Like Monfils, Stepanek reached his first final of the year, dismissing 22-year-old American Young in straight sets.

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The 32-year-old Czech claimed 75 per cent of his service points, and was efficient on return, breaking the first time ATP World Tour semi-finalist in three of his four break point opportunities to lock up the victory in one hour and 19 minutes. "I felt pretty confident heading into this match as I had already played three lefties in a row," said Stepanek. "I was trying to be aggressive, by attacking his second serve, and just putting pressure on him. I think I was in control the whole time."

On Sunday, Stepanek will appear in his first final since finishing runner-up to Andy Roddick in Brisbane in 2010. "It feels great. It's been a year and a half since I was in a final, so definitely I'm very pleased for that," the World No. 54 said. "I still have one more to go which I'm looking forward to."

The winner of four singles titles, Stepanek is aiming to hoist his first trophy since triumphing at San Jose two years ago.