Monfils makes another semi

Gael Monfils advanced to his fourth ATP semi-final of the year at the Bank Austria-Tennis Trophy on Friday.

The eighth-seeded Frenchman beat second seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3 7-6 (7-2) in the quarter-finals in Vienna.

The 22-year-old may have reached three semis this year, including his impressive run at the French Open, but he has yet to compete in a final in 2008.

Monfils needed just one hour and 42 minutes to dispatch Gonzalez in Vienna, saving 7-of-8 break points and smashing six aces.

He will now meet Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany in the last four.

Kohlschreiber reached his third semi-final of the season by upsetting Spanish fifth seed Fernando Verdasco 6-2 6-3 in 67 minutes.

The German capitalised on four of his seven break-point chances to improve his head-to-head record to 3-1 against Verdasco.

In the top half of the draw, Spaniard Feliciano Lopez rallied past Austria's Jurgen Melzer 4-6 6-3 6-4 to book his spot in the semi-finals.

His next opponent will be German qualifier Philipp Petzschner, who defeated Spain's Carlos Moya 6-4 6-2.

8-Gael Monfils (France) def. 2-Fernando Gonzalez (Chile) 6-3 7-6 (7-2)
Philipp Kohlschreiber (Germany) def. Fernando Verdasco (Spain) 6-2 6-3
Feliciano Lopez (Spain) def. Jurgen Melzer (Austria) 4-6 6-3 6-4
Philipp Petzschner (Germany) def. Carlos Moya (Spain) 6-4 6-2