“Well, it was a unusual match”, said Djokovic, who will face No. 3 Stan Wawrinka in Sunday’s final, “as it always is, I guess, when you play Gael, who is a very unpredictable player”.
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Early in what would become a tight test of a U.S. Open final, Angelique Kerber sprinted forward to somehow reach a drop shot and scoop a down-the-line victor to a corner. But the 31-year-old started to look more like a two-time major victor in his quarterfinal victory over 2009 champ Juan Martin del Potro.
Djokovic’s 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-2 victory on a sweltering, humid day in NY that left both players hunched over in the fourth set featured the world No. 1 playing a point with a ripped shirt and showman Monfils getting booed – perhaps a first in his career – for his antics.
It’s been hazardous to one’s health to get drawn to face Djokovic during this tournament: The defending champion and No. 1 seed has enjoyed an unprecedentedly easy path to the final four at Flushing Meadows, needing to complete only two of five matches because of injuries to three foes.
Wawrinka won the 2014 Australian Open and the 2015 French Open.
“He’s a tough player to play”, Wawrinka said of Nishikori.
The 12-time major champion had triple set point while serving at 5-1, and Monfils was seemingly trying to give away the game.
Gael Monfils, of France, reacts after a point against Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, during the semifinals of the U.S. Open tennis tournament, Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, in NY.
“I had to wait; I had to fight”, Wawrinka said.
As she does against most opponents, Kerber would make Pliskova swing two, three, four extra times to try to end a point.
And after a three-set victory in the fourth round, Djokovic only needed to play two sets plus one point in the quarter-finals before Jo-Wilfried Tsonga called it a night because of a problem with his left knee.
Russell Fuller, BBC tennis correspondent: “Having lost the first five games of the match, Monfils started playing at half pace: ambling around the court and chipping back gentle returns”. But with Wawrinka saving six straight break points during one stretch in the second set, Nishikori’s legs started to go. “And I try my best'”.
Djokovic raced to a 5-0 lead Friday, with Monfils looking extremely tight and struggling with double-faults.
“I think the crowd disliked his efforts”, said Djokovic. But Monfils came back to take the third set 6-3, and Djokovic got treatment on his shoulder during a couple of changeovers.
The project is produced by former tennis player Boris Kodjoe and conceptualised by Djokovic and Alberto Scarpetta.
Monfils had two break points at 5-3 to get the set back on serve, but Djokovic saved them to finally close it out.
Sept 9, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Gael Monfils of France playing Novak Djokovic of Serbia on day t …
Prodded by reporters about what he thought of the way Monfils played, Djokovic said, “I thought, at times, that he was maybe behaving a little bit – for some terms and judgments – unacceptable”.
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ON COURT SATURDAY: Women’s Singles Final: No. 2 Angelique Kerber vs. I’m sorry if you think I’m unprofessional but I guess I’m working, I’m learning.
