“He’s a big-match player”, Djokovic said.
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Monfils may have a point because he did lull Djokovic and took the third set, completely against the run of play. And for a while it actually worked.
Gael Monfils lost 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-2 against Novak Djokovic in the men’s singles semis.
But Wawrinka hit back by levelling the match at one set all before the roof was closed over Arthur Ashe midway through the third set due to rain, which was of much relief to both players due to the brutal heat and humidity on a warm evening in NY.
Although the strategy slowed down Djokovic’s charge it did not impress the crowd, who voiced their disapproval, or John McEnroe, who in his television commentary accused the Frenchman of a lack of effort.
Djokovic, the No. 1 seed and defending champion, dipped in form in the third set, and had a trainer massage his left shoulder and, later, his right shoulder. I knew I could fight for three, four, five hours. I could expect that in a way.
“There was only two more matches to go, so I felt really close and playing at a good level I think these two weeks”, he said.
Wawrinka does have some momentum going for him, but the circumstances of this match seem to favor his opposition.
“But that’s Gael. That’s the way he plays now”.
After Wawrinka broke back by capping a 12-stroke exchange with a backhand victor drizzled with topspin and clocking at 93mph off the ground, the Swiss opened the following game with a 108mph ace and went on to consolidate the break with a love hold.
Djokovic had come out on top in all 12 of their previous meetings. “And the only reason I say bordering is because it’s working”. It was very quickly 5-0.
“Before this grand slam there were things that were happening with my health and physical state that were making me a little bit sceptical”.
“Definitely I try to get in his head”.
That’s what everyone wants to see. And that was it. He hit 52 unforced errors including 11 double faults.
The world number three is now chasing his third grand slam title at Flushing Meadows and, if he can manage a repeat, he will become only the fifth man in the Open era to win more than one major tournament after turning 30. Down a set and a break Friday, he upped the pressure and handled the big points better, emerging with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 victory.
“I had no pain so far”, Wawrinka said Friday.
“I had phases when I was entertained by what he’s doing and phases where I was upset with myself for allowing him to do whatever he does to disturb my game and my rhythm”, said Djokovic. “At the end of the day, I thought it was a good match”.
Japan’s Kei Nishikori admitted that he felt “tired” during his US Open semi-final defeat to Stan Wawrinka in NY on Friday.
“I’m really excited. Really happy to make the final. That’s what I’m trying to do”, Wawrinka said. To play against Novak again in the final is going to be something special. This will be their seventh and first US Open finals respectively.
Nevertheless, one could also argue that Murray would have won Wimbledon anyway, after all he didn’t have to play Djokovic (the man he’s lost five Grand Slam finals to) and therefore was the clear favourite for the title when the Serb exited the competition in the third round.
“It was tough conditions, it was really hot and humid so I knew it would be tough”, two-time grand slam victor Wawrinka said. He loves to play in the big stage against big players, because that’s when he elevates his level of performance. “Final, semi-final, and I had matches to get confidence to play well match after match”. “Just gets much better”.
Both his Slam titles have taken him through Djokovic.
If you need any more proof that the World No. 3 is a big game player consider this: Dating back to 2014, Wawrinka has won 10 straight finals on the ATP Tour.
‘He’s the No 1 player, an incredible fighter, an fantastic player, but I have enough confidence in myself that when I play my best level I can beat him.
“Hopefully I can bring that on Sunday”.
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And that challenge will be bigger Sunday because of the way this fortnight has unfolded.
