Federer, Monfils find rain supreme

PARIS — Roger Federer could be excused if he has a restless night.

With thick clouds overhead and light slipping away at the end of a rainy day, Federer got broken by Gael Monfils to even their French Open fourth-round match at a set apiece, right before play was suspended Sunday.

They met on the sideline to chat with the chair umpire, then clasped hands, and Monfils gave Federer a playful pat on the shoulder. Spectators at Court Philippe Chatrier booed and whistled upon hearing there would be no more tennis.

Federer, the 17-time Grand Slam champion, and Monfils, the flamboyant Frenchman who won their two most recent encounters, will resume Monday. At least they finished two sets, with Federer taking the first 6-3, and Monfils winning the second 6-4.

Two women’s matches did not begin at all Sunday, including defending champion Maria Sharapova against Lucie Safarova.

In the quarterfinals, Federer or Monfils will face Federer’s Swiss Davis Cup teammate Stan Wawrinka, seeded eighth, who had no trouble beating 12th-seeded Frenchman Gilles Simon 6-1, 6-4, 6-2.

Wawrinka said he’ll be watching the rest of Federer-Monfils “like any tennis fan.”

On the other half of the draw, No. 5 Kei Nishikori became the first Japanese man in 82 years to reach the quarterfinals in Paris, eliminating Teymuraz Gabashvili 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.

“I hope it’s just the start of my journey,” said Nishikori, who had three days off because his third-round opponent withdrew with an injury.

The only other man from his country to make it this far at this tournament was Jiro Satoh, a semifinalist in 1931 and 1933.

Next for Nishikori is No. 14 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France, who overcame a lapse in the middle of the match to defeat No. 4 Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-2, 6-7 (5), 6-3.

Tsonga, the 2008 Australian Open runner-up, served for the match at 5-4 in the third set but got broken, and his sloppy play carried into the tiebreaker.