Gael Monfils had no choice.
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For quite a while, Novak Djokovic’s opponent in the U.S. Open semifinals, Gael Monfils, played as if he didn’t even want to be there. I went through it all. It was a great theatre experience today.
Angelique Kerber won her first U.S. Open title and the second Grand Slam trophy of her breakthrough season, beating Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday.
Defending champion Novak Djokovic will take on third seed Stan Wawrinka in the US Open final after both men won semi-finals in punishing conditions.
“Kei is a tough player and he played well from the beginning”, Wawrinka remarked after the match.
He led by two sets and a break as Monfils spent much of the first hour hitting the ball at half-pace, barely moving during, as well as between, points and at one stage limping theatrically.
And he was the stable one on court. Britain’s Kyle Edmund stayed upright, but was handed a tennis lesson during a quick-fire a three-set match in the fourth round, but then there was another retirement by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter-finals on Tuesday, calling it quits at the start of the third set with Djokovic having won the first two. “And I try my best'”. These would constitute new trouble spots for the Serb, who arrived in NY with concerns about his left wrist, then got treatment on his right elbow during his first- and fourth-round matches, the only ones he needed to complete until Friday.
Winless in 12 prior matches with Djokovic, Monfils defended the tank as a tactic after the match saying he had to take radical action after getting blown out.
“[Expletive] yes, I’m competing. I try my best”. But the guy is too good. I think I have no shame to say it. “I think I’m failing, for sure, a lot, but I try to stand up”.
Trailing 5-0 – showing little of the play that got him to the last four without dropping a set – Monfils walked into returns, coasted to the net and gave away shots. [Down] 5-0, OK, I show you that I play [in a] non-academic way.
The match began predictably, and depressingly, enough for Monfils. He served 11 aces and 11 double faults.
Given Monfils’ lack of energy on court, this could well have been the fourth time that happened. The free-spirited Frenchman saved a set point with a 120 miles per hour ace, eventually getting on the board with a three-ace hold.
Wawrinka was up a break in that set, but Nishikori broke right before the rain delay.
Kerber won the toss and elected to receive, perhaps for two reasons: Her serve is the biggest question mark in her otherwise solid game, and it made sense to force Pliskova to deal with an early test of nerves.
John McEnroe, a master of playing tactical cards and mental tricks during his prime, called the strategy “bordering on unprofessional” on ESPN. Two points later, Djkovic converted a break point and took an insurmountable 3-1 lead.
“I’m not going to practise for three or four hours just to feel that kind of potential for the fifth set scenario”, Djokovic said. A leaping Monfils banged a backhand down the line that collided with the tape, changed direction and plopped over. “We played many times against each other”.
The victor will face No. 1 Novak Djokovic for the title on Sunday. Monfils looked absolutely out of sorts, got broken early, and had no answer to Djokovic playing tennis.
“It’s part of the sport”.
“It was my adductor”, Wawrinka said. I enjoy playing tennis. I’m just embracing the fact that guy is too good for me and I try to switch strategy. “Yes, I’m competing”, said Monfils, cursing for emphasis.
A lucky 13: Djokovic has now beaten Monfils in each of their 13 meetings.
After his loss, Monfils hit back at the accusations.
“I was completely caught off-guard”, Djokovic acknowledged. “It really depends on you, how you react to that”. And it actually messed with Djokovic and helped Monfils win a few games in the first set, though he ultimately lost it.
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Djokovic needed just one as he sealed his the victory, but it may be the rest that needs most of all after a draining battle in the Mahattan heat. This time there was no great escape as Monfils put a forehand into the tape. Moments later, the German trailed 3-1. Monfils even repeatedly tried serve-and-volleying, a style he nearly never employs, and erred often. Monfils did not move for the ball. He will face either Stan Wawrinka or Kei Nishikori in Sunday’s showpiece match. “That should be on my side. luckily, I managed to get it back”.
