The home crowd at the Paris Masters had something to cheer when Gael Monfils recovered from a set down to beat Marin Cilic 3-6 6-4 6-4.

"It's great to win in France like this," Monfils told Sky Sports 2. "I fought and competed very well.

"I am in the semi-finals so I am very happy now and I hope I am not finished here."

Asked about the key to turning the match around, Monfils added: "I was a little too defensive but I tried to be more aggressive and move him a little bit more, but the main thing was the belief in myself."

Monfils will now take on Radek Stepanek in the semis.

The 30-year-old Czech was 4-0 up on world number five Juan Martin del Potro in the last of the day's quarter-finals when the Argentinian was forced to retire with what looked like a stomach injury.

US Open champion Del Potro, who came through a gruelling match against Fernando Gonzalez yesterday, had nothing left to give against Stepanek and called it a day with the World Tour Finals coming up.