“I always wish to get to the final match whenever I come to a Grand Slam”, Djokovic said, who is aiming to defend the title he won past year after first winning it in 2011.
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The third-seeded Swiss took a while to get untracked as 2014 U.S. Open runner-up Nishikori played a near flawless opening set of the semi-final with just two errors.
Getting waxed by Novak Djokovic late in the first set of his semifinal match, Gael Monfils employed a defensive-minded tactic that, to many, looked like a case of sandbagging.
Somehow, the greatest player in the world was reduced to being the party of the other part in this U.S. Open men’s semifinal Friday afternoon in the steam bath of Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Wawrinka saved four break points in the seventh game of the second set to stay on serve at 4-3 and saved two more in the ninth game before leveling the match.
When Djokovic completed his career Grand Slam at the French Open in June, it also gave him four major trophies in a row, something last accomplished almost 50 years ago.
“It was tough conditions, it was really hot and humid so I knew it would be tough”, two-time grand slam victor Wawrinka said. “I do sincerely hope all you guys enjoyed our battle today”.
Top-seeded Novak Djokovic rips his shirt in frustration at the freakish on-court tactics of Gael Monfils during their U.S. Open semifinal match, won by Djokovic, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2. And I try my best.
Playing in high humidity and 100% heat courtside, Monfils, who hadn’t dropped a set before yesterday played abject tennis and was roundly booed by the 23,000 New Yorkers who wanted to see a contest and got nothing more than a virtual surrender for the first hour – before flicking a switch and turning the match on its head. It’s tough, you know.
“I think I should not have allowed him to come back to the match after two sets to love up and 2-love in the third”, Djokovic said.
Djokovic at one stage ripped off his shirt in frustration at Monfils, while praising the Frenchman the next.
There were plenty of lengthy exchanges in that first set, and Kerber tended to get the better of them, winning 9 of 14 points that lasted at least 10 strokes.
After taking the third and breaking Nishkori at love for a 2-0 lead in the fourth, Wawrinka appeared to be on his way. I didn’t find any solution to put my game. I’m not playing my best tennis in every tournament.
Explaining why he played in such a “crazy” way, Monfils said he was still trying to win, but in a different way. Both players are cracking and there can be a lot of action in that match.
“In the end of the day, I thought it was a good match”.
Having advanced to the semi-final without dropping a set, Monfils did not wait long to surrender his first as he went 5-0 down in just 16 minutes. “That should be on my side. luckily, I managed to get it back”.
Djokovic has won the US Open three times in the past, while Wawrinka is yet to taste success.
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. I’m just embracing the fact the guy is too good for me, and I try to switch strategy.
Djokovic admitted there were stretches in which Monfils’ unconventional approach got on his nerves and threw him off his game.
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“And he also started to get exhausted a little bit”. We both physically struggled a little bit towards the end of the third and fourth set, beginning of the fourth especially.
