Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Frenchman Gael Monfils in the men's singles fourth-round match at the French Open in Paris on Monday. Federer won 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1. Photo: CFP

 

Second seed Roger Federer reached the French Open quarterfinals for the 11th time on Monday with a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 win over France's Gael Monfils.

Federer, the 2009 champion, will now face Swiss Davis Cup winning teammate Stan Wawrinka for a place in the semifinals.

He raced through the final two sets on Monday in just over an hour after the last-16 tie was delicately poised at a set apiece when it was suspended in the chilly gloom of Sunday evening.

"I feel fresh and pumped up to be back in the quarterfinals again after missing out last year," said Federer, who was beaten by Ernests Gulbis in the last 16 in 2014.

Monfils, a semifinalist in 2008, was nowhere near his swashbuckling best on Monday, slipping to a break down in the first game of both sets.

At 2-1 down in the fourth, he needed the trainer to be called although the Frenchman's problems appeared more related to the cold from which he was suffering rather than any physical problem.

He lost the last five games of the contest and although he saved a match point with a trademark cute drop volley, an equally characteristic wild forehand sealed his fate.

It was 33-year-old Federer's ninth win in 13 meetings against Monfils, who had triumphed over the Swiss star on clay in Monte Carlo in April and in November's Davis Cup final.

Meanwhile, Federer will take a 16-2 career advantage over Wawrinka into Tuesday's quarterfinal, including a win on clay in Rome in May.

Spanish seventh seed David Ferrer recorded his 40th career win at Roland Garros with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 victory over Croatian ninth seed Marin Cilic to also reach the quarterfinals.

Ferrer, the runner-up in 2013, will take on third-seeded Andy Murray, who ousted Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, for a place in the semi­finals.

In the women's competition, Maria Sharapova's impressive sequence of French Open results ended when the defending champion was knocked out 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 by 13th-seeded Czech Lucie Safarova in the fourth round.

The second-seeded Russian had reached the previous three finals at ­Roland Garros, winning in 2012 and 2014, but could not handle her opponent's steely forehand.

Safarova, who had never progressed to the quarterfinals on the Paris clay in 10 previous attempts, hit 20 forehand winners to unsettle the former world No.1. She next faces 21st seed Garbine Muguruza after the Spaniard went through to the last eight for the second year in a row by defeating Italy's Flavia Pennetta in straight sets.

Top seed Serena Williams beat compatriot Sloane Stephens in three sets to win through to the quarterfinals.

Just as in each of the previous two rounds, Williams lost the opening set before recovering to win the last-16 ­encounter 1-6, 7-5, 6-3 and set up a meeting with Italy's 17th seed Sara Errani for a place in the semifinals.