2011 Canadian Masters Quarterfinals: Novak Djokovic vs. Gael Monfils Preview

Novak Djokovic, a semifinalist at last year's Canadian Masters event, will be looking to at least duplicate his accomplishments last season on Friday as the world No. 1 prepares for his quarterfinal match against France's Gael Monfils.

Monfils made it into the quarterfinals by the skin of his teeth as the French player almost lost to Viktor Troicki on Thursday night. However, the Serb was unable to convert any three of the match point opportunities he was given in the second set of their match, which allowed Monfils to gather momentum and make good on a comeback bid.

Monfils' reward is nothing short of what should be a one-sided match on Friday as Djokovic has proven to be unstoppable on the hard court surface this season.

Djokovic is closing in on his third straight Masters Series 1000 title on the hard court surface having won both Indian Wells and Miami earlier this year.

Even in previous years when Djokovic was not playing at the level he is now Monfils has had plenty of trouble with the Serb.

Djokovic enters their match with a perfect 6-0 record against Monfils with five of those six matches having been played on the hard court surface. This will be the players first meeting in 2011, however, in 2010 they met twice and Djokovic won both matches three sets to love with only one competitive set.

Djokovic seems unlikely to be stopped by Monfils. A probable Djokovic vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga semifinal looks like the match of the tournament although Tsonga, for his part, needs to best Nicolas Almagro in order to set that clash up.

Djokovic's semifinal against Monfils is the late match from Montreal on Monday and is scheduled to start around 7:30 pm ET.