Given Monfils’ lack of energy on court, this could well have been the fourth time that happened.
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The ultimate outcome was only briefly in the balance, though.
NEW YORK (AP) Facing an opponent who occasionally played as if he had somewhere better to be, Novak Djokovic reached his 21st Grand Slam final and seventh at the U.S. Open with a freaky 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Gael Monfils on Friday.
Djokovic, who will face either Stan Wawrinka or Kei Nishikori in his seventh US Open final, lost his concentration, blowing three straight set points on serve at 5-1.
Djokovic has beaten Monfils in 12 of their 13 encounters: The Frenchman won a match in a futures tournament in 2004, and then the Serb won their next 12 matches, beginning with a five-set thriller at the 2005 US Open.
“This”, John McEnroe told ESPN’s viewers, “is weird”.
Eventually, the Arthur Ashe crowd became fed up with Monfils’ antics. “I know it is not natural, because the first question was like, ‘You’re not competing'”. But why I will stay and lose 6-0 and not change anything? During points, Monfils would hit slices or make truly halfhearted, half-swinging strokes, then occasionally wallop a 100 miles per hour passing shot.
“For sure, people are not really ready to see that”, Monfils said.
Somehow, the tactic was effective, for a short while, anyway. “I was completely caught off guard when he just stood there and chipped the ball back and didn’t do much”.
Tenth-seeded Monfils has lost twice to Djokovic in NY – in five sets in the first round in 2005 and a straight sets defeat in the 2010 quarter-finals. But I guess that was part of his tactics. I think I have no shame to say it.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after defeating Gael Monfils of France during their Men’s Singles Semifinal Match on Day Twelve of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2016 in the Queens borough of New York City. However, Wawrinka’s biggest win as a professional came over Djokovic a year ago in the French Open final, and Wawrinka has won his past 10 finals in a row.
“It’s not easy when you have to play number two, number three, and, you know, Novak Djokovic was waiting in the finals”. Novak held on and then broke Monfils to wrap up the game, the set, and the match.
The crowd were not impressed, however, and began to boo early in the third when Monfils faced two break points and then double faulted. All over but the shouting, right? Nope. In a blink, Monfils came to life.
“At times in decisive, tense moments, we had many exchanges from the baseline”, Djokovic said in his on-court interview.
Djokovic raced to a 5-0 lead Friday, with Monfils looking extremely tight and struggling with double-faults. Later, it was time for help with the right shoulder. “So I don’t have any concerns”.
In the late going, Monfils was leaning on his racket between points. More examples of playing possum? I say playing tennis because that is exactly what Djokovic was doing. The last time Wawrinka won was in 2015 at the Australian Open.
Wawrinka, the 2014 Australian Open victor and 2015 French Open champion, broke Nishikori in the last game of the second, third and fourth sets to reach his first US Open final.
“I keep asking myself the same question”, he said, laughing. “I had to fight”.
The top-seeded player has needed only two full matches to reach the semifinals – the first round and the fourth round.
Djokovic arrived at the semi-finals having played just two complete matches in five prior rounds after a walkover from one opponent and the mid-match retirements of two others.
The defending champion was at times aggravated by Monfils’ attitude but there appeared to be no bad feeling when at the end they met at the net.
Today, Monfils was unable to move in perhaps one of the strangest matches we have seen – and at the semi-final of a Grand Slam. Still the criticism was definitely harsh for a 10 seed player who managed to make it to the semis. That’s certainly been the case this year at Flushing Meadows.
Monfils saved three break points in the ninth game before clinching the set, celebrating his lifeline with a mighty roar.
Djokovic’s trip to the semis was a odd one that included one victory in a walkover and two more against opponents who retired.
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Nishikori will be happy not to be facing del Potro who has a 4-0 lead in their rivalry and has never conceded a set to the Japanese.
