Novak Djokovic heads into the US Open semi-finals as the overwhelming favourite to go on and lift a third title in NY, but Kei Nishikori, Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils are lined-up as potential road blocks.
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“I think one of the most important things for a player is this freshness of the mind, of the body, and just having that right supply of substance in your body and the enduring strength that you need, the speed, the alertness”, he said.
NEW YORK – Novak Djokovic’s US Open took another curious turn as he advanced to the semifinals when Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired at the start of the third set, trailing 6-3 6-2.
The other women’s quarterfinal pits two women who’ve never been this far before at a Grand Slam tournament: 10th-seeded Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic and 92nd-ranked Ana Konjuh of Croatia.
While Novak Djokovic’s path to the US Open final once appeared strewn with obstacles and tough opponents, it now looks like a free and open highway.
Djokovic entered the Open with a balky left wrist that he injured right before the Rio Olympics and contributed to his first-round loss to eventual silver medalist Juan Martin del Potro.
He can become Asia’s first Grand Slam men’s singles champion while the title would net him a windfall of $3.5 million. “As [the] tournament progresses, I feel like I’m getting better”.
“I feel really sorry for her as I have had that injury before”, said 26-year-old Wozniacki, who will now return to the top 30 as a result of her surprise run in NY. “That’s the position where I want to be”.
Djokovic has made the semi-finals here for the 10th year in a row.
Djokovic was leading 6-3, 6-2 Tuesday night when the ninth-seeded Tsonga grabbed his left knee once again, grimaced and said he could not continue the match on Arthur Ashe Stadium. But he has been fantastic during this tournament, winning all 15 sets he’s played.
Pouille quite simply ran out of steam, winding up with just about three times as many unforced errors as Monfils, 44-15.
“He’s one of the few players that I will definitely pay a ticket to watch”.
“I love watching Gael”, Djokovic said. “He’s very charismatic. Plays with a smile. Enjoys tennis. Enjoys life”, Djokovic said of Monfils. Pouille had stunned Rafael Nadal in the pre-quarterfinals.
No one ever has won four consecutive five-setters at a major in the Open era, which dates to 1968.
Tsonga took a medical time-out during the changeover at 5-2 of the second set and had the area below his left knee taped. In the other, two-time runner-up Caroline Wozniacki was a 6-0, 6-2 victor against Anastasija Sevastova, who injured her right ankle in the second game and was never able to get going.
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And Djokovic will now have another two days before his Friday semifinal against Gael Monfils.
