Gael Monfils rejected accusations he failed to try his hardest against Novak Djokovic after he was beaten in a controversial semi-final at the US Open.
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Admittedly disturbed at times by Monfils’ slacker shtick, the defending champion grew unnerved and erratic after building a two-set, two lead love, took treatment for both his left shoulder and right shoulder, dropped five straight games in one slide and shredded his shirt in anger at one point.
He has a tough task against Wawrinka, a man who upset him previous year in the French Open final.
Although he looked nowhere near his best, Djokovic raced to a 5-0 lead in the opening set as Monfils looked in terrible form. He stood flat-footed and seemingly disinterested to receive serve, then looped back short moon balls, daring Djokovic to attack.
The world number 12 gave a passionate defence of his performance and insisted he was simply aiming to unsettle his opponent.
However, it was a flickering screen in Arthur Ashe that caused him the most grief early on as he nearly surrendered a 5-0 lead in the opening set.
“If at the end I had the mic, I would say to the audience, ‘Stop saying that I’m unprofessional, ‘” Monfils said. Djokovic just had to ensure that the rally went on for more than 5/6 strokes, and Monfils would self-destruct. The guy (Djokovic) is too good, I just have to change, you know. “I had to wait and fight and make him a bit uncomfortable and he started to get exhausted”. “I already feel better”.
But 10th seed Monfils, who’d reacted angrily to being booed, somehow found his magic and reeled off five games in a row. “But again, even having that kind of awareness and coming into a match, it still happens that, you know, these kind of things that he does don’t go away unnoticed, you know”.
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The quirky Frenchman, employing the unusual tactic of appearing not to try, made it far more interesting than anticipated.
Monfils was furious that he had been branded as unprofessional by McEnroe who was commentating for American television.
On ESPN’s telecast, John McEnroe blasted the 10th-seeded Frenchman for lack of effort; the Arthur Ashe Stadium jeered him. Wawrinka said. “I’m 31 years old”.
The American later added: “You can’t support that, I’m sorry”. He predicted that the players in the locker room would have nothing but contempt for it.
“[Expletive] yes, I’m competing”. To change shows guts, I think I’m gutsy to try that against the world No. 1. I have nothing personal against him, so I’m very sad to hear that. When he calls me unprofessional, he calls my coach unprofessional, calls my physio unprofessional, all my team, actually, unprofessional’.
“The 6’4” Frenchman’s astounding athleticism can make him a magical player, but his tendency to push and run rather than assert his gifts offensively can make him a maddening player as well. “I had phases when I was pissed off, phases when I was entertained by what he was doing and phases when I was upset with myself for allowing him to, you know, whatever he does to disturb my game and reason”.
The pair’s head-to-head record had been 12-0 in favour fo Djokovic, with no unexpected results here, but Monfils did trouble the Serb somewhat, in humid conditions that taxed both players seriously.
Asked what worries he might have about his health, Djokovic replied, “Thankfully, it’s behind me”.
“I did rip it once, and then the second time just got out of hand in heat of the moment”, Djokovic said.
“He started using his backhand a little bit more down the line and with angles”.
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.
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Asked about Friday’s second semifinal, a tired Djokovic said: “I’m going to take a lot of water, put my son to sleep if I can and then watch a little bit of that”.
