After taking the first two sets 6-3, 6-2, Djokovic looked in cruise mode, and while he dropped the third 3-6 on one of the hottest days at the US Open, the result was never really in doubt, with the defending champion winning the fourth 6-2 to move into the final. “I knew it would be tough”, said Wawrinka.
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“I watch the finals here so many times – Roger, Novak, Rafa (Nadal) – they are wonderful champions and to be play against Novak, previous year at the French, we play so many matches at a grand slam so to play him is something special. And the only reason I say bordering is because it’s working”.
He will now meet defending champion Djokovic on Sunday in a repeat of the 2015 French Open, when Wawrinka stunned the Serb to clinch his second major title.
Monfils had two break points at 5-3 to get the set back on serve, but Djokovic saved them to finally close it out.
He was soon within sight of another swift contest against Monfils as soon as the semi-final match started.
“He was playing much better the last couple sets”. Wawrinka got so sweaty his racket flew out of his hand on one point, but he seemed to grow sturdier as the match wore on.
It was Djokovic who emerged with the set, however, and as the Serbian star raced through the second Monfils’ interest again appeared to wane.
Djokovic had benefitted from three retirements en route to the semi-finals and question marks about his fitness remain after he took regular treatment on both shoulders in the latter stages.
He was soon to rip his shirt in frustration.
Even stranger, however, was that it worked, as Djokovic became rattled by his opponent’s antics, serving two double faults and handing away one break back for 5-3.
Nishikori continued to commit unforced errors and there proved to be no way back from 4-2 down, with Djokovic now the only thing standing between Wawrinka and a third slam title.
It was with a victor on match point which flew past an nearly stationary Monfils.
“I thought, at times, that he was maybe behaving a little bit – for some terms and judgments – unacceptable”, Djokovic said.
“We expected it – we heard it would be warm and humid”.
“At the end, if I had a mic, I would say to the audience to stop saying that I’m unprofessional”. “That’s tough because you’re not ready to see that”. I had to change a little bit. “I tried to make him run”.
The world number three ensured the second set did not go to a tie-break, wrapping it up in 12 games despite Nishikori’s resilience.
Mate Pavic of Croatia and Laura Siegemund of Germany won the U.S. Open mixed doubles championship in their first tournament together, beating the American duo of Rajeev Ram and CoCo Vandeweghe 6-4, 6-4 in the final Friday.
The Japanese player levelled after play was interrupted briefly as rain forced the roof to be closed.
The 2016 U.S. Open is nearing its end after two weeks of intense action, with the men’s semifinals being the centerpiece of Friday’s action.
“You can not play that well coming into a semifinal and put in an effort like that for two sets”, even with the stifling weather, former US Open finalist Greg Rusedski said on Eurosport.
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“Definitely I try to get in his head, try to create something new for him”, explained Monfils.
