France's Gael Monfils, returning to tennis after an injury layoff, reached the semi-finals of the ATP Thailand Open on Friday with a 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) win over Jarkko Nieminen. Monfils, who rested for nearly a month after exiting early at the US Open with a knee problem, set up a showdown with American surprise package Donald Young, who thumped Japan's Go Soeda 6-1, 6-2.
World number nine Monfils had a much easier time than he did in his opening match, where he needed three sets to beat Santiago Giraldo. "I was away from tennis for a long time and I woke up a bit sore this morning," said the French right-hander, playing in his ninth quarter-final of 2011.