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Djokovic rallies past Monfils, setting up semifinal with Tsonga in Shanghai Masters

Associated Press
Published | Updated

Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating France's Gael Monfils at their singles quarterfinal match of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center, in Shanghai, China, Friday, Oct. 11, 2013. Djokovic won 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) (The Associated Press)

Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates after defeating France's Gael Monfils at their singles quarterfinal match of the Shanghai Masters tennis tournament at Qizhong Forest Sports City Tennis Center, in Shanghai, China, Friday, Oct. 11, 2013. Djokovic won 6-7, 6-2, 6-4. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) (The Associated Press)

Novak Djokovic, his serve broken twice early in the first set, rallied past Gael Monfils 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-4 Friday to reach the Shanghai Masters semifinals.

Djokovic, the defending champion, next plays Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Florian Mayer. Juan Martin del Potro also advanced, beating Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 6-3. Del Potro will meet Rafael Nadal or Stanislas Wawrinka in the semis.

Djokovic hadn't been broken in his two previous matches in Shanghai. But he dropped serve twice in the first three games against Monfils. After taking the first set, however, the 42nd-ranked Monfils struggled with abdominal pain and couldn't break the Serb again.