US Open Tennis 2011: Ferrero vs. No. 7 Monfils Score, Analysis and Highlights

It didn't take long for a massive upset to take place on the men's side of the 2011 US Open. Juan Carlos Ferrero's second-round heroics sent Gael Monfils packing in five sets.

Monfils was the seventh seed in the tournament, so it comes as a huge surprise to see an early exit. Ferrero was able to hold him off 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-4 in what was one of the most exciting matches we could hope to see this early on in the tournament.

Bogged down by injuries, Ferrero hasn't been all that relative in the tennis world since the early 2000s. This sort of stellar performance comes virtually out of nowhere, as the former No. 1 was able to oust one of the most feared players in the tournament.

Monfils has to be disappointed with the result, but he can't be ashamed of his play. Both players put on a show, making the standing ovation they were given from the crowd just before their last game well deserved.

Make no mistake about it, we haven't seen the last of this 25-year-old Frenchman. He fell short in this grand slam, and while he has yet to reach a final at a grand slam tournament, he's got plenty of tennis in front of him.

This match came down to consistency and it was Ferrero who was able to avoid mistakes down the stretch. His experience and wherewithal proved to be the difference maker, as this match clearly wasn't about who wanted it more.

It was a great showing from both sides and points to just how wide open this tournament is. With the ambiguity amongst the top seeds, this seems like one of those tournaments where a dark horse could come out of nowhere and reach the final.

Monfils seemed like a player who might be able to get the better of one of the favorites down the stretch, but that optimism has been cut down before the tournament even started going.

This comes not long after No. 6 seeded Robin Soderling withdrew from play, making life easier for the favorites to survive and advance.

The only thing that is certain is that nobody is safe. At any given time, a player on the rise can shock the world and an aging legend can take down one of the best players in the tournament.

The latter of the two scenarios became a reality on Thursday and Ferrero will look to turn his spectacular second-round spectacle into something more. That journey begins in round three, when he takes on a much more manageable opponent in Marcel Granollers.

Given the way he was able to fight off Monfils, there's really no telling how far Monfils' run will last at the US Open.