This Caribbean Roots Player Has Made The Quarter-Finals Of The U.S. Open

Gael Monfils of France beat Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus during his fourth round Men’s Singles match on Day Seven of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 4, 2016 in the Queens borough of New York City to advance to the quarter finals of the tourney. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images for USTA)

By NAN Contributor

News Americas, FLUSHING, NY, Mon. Sept. 5, 2016: There are no Caribbean-born players left in the U.S. Open but a Caribbean roots player who has dominated the 2016 event to date, yesterday slammed his way into the quarter-finals.

French-born, Caribbean-roots Gael Monfils advanced to the quarter finals of the 2016 U.S. Open Sunday with a fourth-round victory at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, in a tourney that has been marked by his usual on court athleticism and acrobatics.

Monfils whose father is from Guadeloupe and whose mother is from the nearby island of Martinique, recorded another sizzling win Sunday over Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3, to advance.

The 10th-seeded Monfils, who recently celebrated his 30th birthday, marched on in the tourney to improve to 18-2 in matches he’s played since a first-round loss at Wimbledon.

He served nine aces and gave himself a cushion with six service breaks against Baghdatis, who put only 36 percent of his first serves in play.

Monfils will now play Lucas Pouille – who beat Rafael Nadal Sunday – for a place in the U.S. Open semi-finals.