Djokovic’s semifinal opponent, No. 10 seed Gael Monfils, has been on court for nine hours, 52 minutes. “If not, I won’t wake up every morning, train, because most people think that jumping or doing trick shot is gifted”.
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After his streak of four consecutive major championships – the first time a man had done that in almost 50 years – was capped by his initial French Open title, Djokovic was upset in the third round at Wimbledon. Immediately in the next round, Mikhail Youzhny also opted out with a leg injury after Djokovic was leading the first set 4-2.
Afterward, Monfils took a swipe at those who have questioned his methods.
“I really don’t want to be someone who says ‘I’m retiring, ‘ then, after two weeks, ‘No, I’m not retiring.’ ‘I’m retiring.’ ‘I’m not.’ I don’t know”.
After saving a match point in a five-set win in his last outing, Wawrinka was cruising against 63rd-ranked Illya Marchenko, who was playing in his first Grand Slam round of 16.
“When you make the show, honestly, it’s to entertain, but it’s to win”, The Wall Street Journal reported him saying. Right now I’m feeling very close to the peak.
However, the 12-time grand-slam champion is unworried about his lack of competitive action ahead of a last-four clash against Gael Monfils. But he has been fantastic during this tournament, winning all 15 sets he’s played. John McEnroe, commentating on ESPN, said: “I do love to see great tennis and we haven’t had a lot of that at night”. It’s something I had already in the past, so I know exactly what happened.
The other men’s quarter on Tuesday is an all-French affair with 10th-seeded veteran Gael Monfils taking on 22-year-old Lucas Pouille, who shocked 14-times grand slam singles victor Rafa Nadal in five sets in the fourth round.
Asked if he’s anxious about his match toughness approaching the semifinals, Djokovic said he’ll gladly trade that for freshness.
But Tsonga wobbled in the sixth game, committing three double faults to lose serve, the first of three successive breaks that left the Serb with a 5-3 lead. Punters will find some awesome odds on set betting, Double Result, bets by game and much more. “And the lob obviously is the best shot”. But Monfils needed just three sets to take down Pouille, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. The dynamic and swift-moving Monfils, however, will provide a stiff, if unorthodox test, for Djokovic. Monfils said a lack of match play won’t make Djokovic any less unsafe.
Monfils won in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 and was never legitimately challenged after he won that first set.
Saving energy is just what the doctor ordered for Djokovic, since the Serb entered the event with a left wrist injury and has been treated for a right arm issue a few times since the year’s final grand slam began.
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Kerber, who has a chance to overtake Williams at No. 1 in the WTA rankings after the tournament, moved into her third Grand Slam semifinal of the year.
