NEW YORK (AP) Juan Carlos Ferrero outlasted seventh-seeded Gael Monfils 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4 Thursday in a thrill-a-minute match that lasted nearly five hours to reach the U.S. Open's third round.
The crowd in Louis Armstrong Stadium saluted both players with a standing ovation before the final game, which the 31-year-old Ferrero served out at love. He was the French Open champion and U.S. Open runner-up and briefly reached No. 1 in 2003, but the Spaniard has most of this season with a series of injuries and is ranked 105th.
Ferrero lost in the first round at two hard-court tuneup tournaments last month.
But on Thursday, he played more steadily than Monfils, who offset 21 aces and 81 total winners with 81 unforced errors.