There is one opponent, however, who knows as well as anybody what it now takes to beat the world No 1 on the biggest stages.
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Monfils tested the patience of both Djokovic and the fans with a display of tennis that swung wildly from dynamic to indifferent as he tried to “get inside” the Serb’s head.
Novak Djokovic has earned a place in the US Open final with a four-set victory over Gael Monfils.
Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open victor and 2015 French Open champion, broke Nishikori in the last game of the second, third and fourth sets to reach his first U.S. Open final.
Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland reacts to winning the second set against Kei Nishikori of Japan during their Men’s Singles Semifinal Match on Day Twelve of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2016 in the Queens borough of New York City.
Djokovic had three set points while serving at 5-2, 40-love, and Monfils transitioned into something that at first blush appeared to be losing on goal, but he explained afterward it was the tennis equivalent of Muhammad Ali’s boxing “rope-a-dope”, absorbing someone else’s best shots and pretending to not be interested in attacking.
The 12-time Grand Slam champion has benefited at this year’s tournament from three retirements and will presumably be fresher than normal for Sunday’s (September 11) final.
In contrast to Djokovic – who had a walkover and two matches shortened when opponents retired – Wawrinka has endured an arduous path to the title match, saving a match point in a fourth-set tiebreaker of a third-round victory over Briton Dan Evans.
“There’s not only one way to play tennis”, he said.
But he found himself down 0-40 in the fifth game and after the Swiss saved two break points Nishikori had it back on serve when Wawrinka fired a backhand wide. In fact, he has won his last 10 finals.
The 29-year-old Djokovic had treatment on both shoulders during the first semi-final, while Monfils could barely move at times as conditions took their toll.
Monfils claimed he was mixing up his tactics to try and counter Djokovic’s flying start.
In the second set, Monfils lost five consecutive games and limped afterward.
“And he also started to get exhausted a little bit”.
On ESPN’s telecast, John McEnroe blasted the No. 10 seed Frenchman for a lack of effort. Monfils, nevertheless, took the third set by upping his game before Djokovic took control of the fourth.
Certainly the 30-year-old Parisian’s approach grates on tennis traditionalists including grand slam victor and commentator John McEnroe, who labelled Monfils’ performance as unprofessional. “And the only reason I say bordering is because it’s working”. So that’s what I’m focusing (on) here: “to fight, to suffer, to accept to suffer, to accept that the player in front of me (is) playing better”, he explained. High of 89. An evening shower forced the roof to close during the Wawrinka-Nishikori match.
“I was completely caught off guard when he just stood there and chipped the ball back and didn’t do much”.
“He started believing in himself. I pass him. Was great strategy”. He actually likes playing in big matches.
“To play Novak again it will be very special”, he said. He can do it all. He loves to come up with a variety in his game, and the defence shots. “He can be very unsafe against anybody”.
“It’s really humid, really hot”.
“I’m really excited. I watched the final so many times here. When you play Novak, the number one player, in the final of a grand slam, it’s the biggest challenge you can have”.
The Swiss admitted that his form had fluctuated during the year.
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“I had phases when I was pissed off, phases when I was entertained by what he’s doing, and phases where I was upset with myself for allowing him to disturb my rhythm”, Djokovic said.
