That’s why Gael Monfils’ press conference after his loss to Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the US Open on Saturday (AEST) was so engaging.
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NEW YORK (AP) – Stan Wawrinka spent the first set of his U.S. Open semifinal letting Kei Nishikori push him around the court. The other men’s semifinal Friday is No. 1 Novak Djokovic against No. 10 Gael Monfils.
Djokovic will take the Swiss third seed Stan Wawrinka, who outslugged the Japanese sixth seed Kei Nishikori 4-6 7-5 6-4 6-2 in energy-sapping humidity. Djokovic ripped his shirt down the middle in a fit of anger toward the end of the set. Djokovic entered this match enjoying the easiest path to a major semifinal in the almost half-century of the Open era: Three of his first five foes either stopped playing or pulled out of the tournament entirely because of injuries. The two also came from a two-day rest, enough to give the audience at the Arthur Ashe Stadium a spectacular play. “Yes, I’m competing”, Monfils said, cursing for emphasis.
“And then I won’t win a match like that, but I can win maybe 15 minutes, maybe two more games, one more game”.
Monfils did begin playing a more familiar brand of tennis soon after that early break and a Djokovic hold.
The outset certainly was memorable, if indecipherable.
Monfils showed what he is capable of with flashes of brilliance to take the third set after the crowd voice their disapproval with his lacklustre showing, but never really looked like claiming a first win over Djokovic in 13 attempts.
It was Djokovic who emerged with the set, however, and as the Serbian star raced through the second Monfils’s interest again appeared to wane. During points, Monfils would hit slices or make truly halfhearted, half-swinging strokes, then occasionally wallop a 100 miles per hour passing shot. Monfils even repeatedly tried serve-and-volleying, a style he nearly never employs, and erred often.
On ESPN’s telecast, John McEnroe blasted the 10th-seeded Frenchman for lack of effort.
The strategy worked briefly. Without the court time to prove the Serb is over his injury and improving on form from a knockout at Wimbledon and the Olympic Games, Monfils will fancy his chances.
Monfils’ tennis style is known to be “theatrical” in many aspects.
Monfils dropped the first two sets in disheartening fashion, his lackluster play giving the appearance he was throwing the match.
He was booed again by sections of the 20,000-strong crowd as he dropped the first game of the third set. Now he suddenly started to play some gorgeous tennis, firing down aces and unfurling passing shots as he reeled off five straight games.
The change in conditions seemed to favor Nishikori, who’s won five of his 11 career titles on indoor hard courts.
Hours before the match, Djokovic clutched at his back during a practice session in Ashe. There were extenuating circumstances due to lingering shoulder problems on the left and right side that required attention during the match.
The Frenchman appeared to be tanking toward the end of the first set by standing very close to the service line on Djokovic’s serve and basically looking disinterested. Now it was Djokovic’s turn to reveal vulnerability, summoning the trainer to massage his left shoulder.
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Nishikori came into Friday’s match with an eye-popping 5-0 record against top-10 players at the U.S. Open, the only Grand Slam at which he has made the semis.
