Stan Wawrinka had to wait until the US Open to score his first Top 10 victory of the season (played only 3 matches before today), but it was a worthy one, as he defeated Kei Nishikori 4-6 7-5 6-4 6-2 in 3 hours and 7 minutes for his 3rd Grand Slam final. Djokovic entered this match enjoying the easiest path to a major semifinal in the almost half-century of the Open era: Three of his first five foes either stopped playing or pulled out of the tournament entirely because of injuries.
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Gael Monfils responded to his critics like John McEnroe after losing to Novak Djokovic in the semifinals of the US Open on Friday.
Getting waxed by Novak Djokovic late in the first set of his semifinal match, Gael Monfils employed a defensive-minded tactic that, to many, looked like a case of sandbagging.
Despite three visits from the trainer for a shoulder problem, the 13-time Grand Slam champion eased through the next couple of games to book his place in a seventh Flushing Meadows final. “Now I know him a little bit better”, Siegemund said during the trophy ceremony.
It was just the latest unpredictable moment in what has been an unpredictable career for the Frenchman, who has always been one of the most interesting and charismatic players on the men’s tour.
It was Djokovic who emerged with the set, however, and as the Serbian star raced through the second Monfils’s interest again appeared to wane. “I’m just embracing the fact the guy is too good for me, and trying to switch strategy'”.
“In the end of the day, I thought it was a good match”.
Only briefly, though. Djokovic broke serve in the fourth, sixth and eighth games to conclude the proceedings.
In addition to that epic five-setter he’s played three four-setters.
On Saturday, the No. 2-seeded Kerber trailed by a break at 3-1 in the third set before coming back against Pliskova, a 24-year-old Czech who was seeded 10th and hadn’t been past the third round at a major until this tournament.
John McEnroe said: “Monfils is bordering on unprofessional”. I just have to change.
The strategy paid off as Monfils reeled off three games in a row. Novak saved a set point in game 8 and had a nice chance to get to the scoreboard completely, with 3 break points in game 9, only to lose the following 5 points, as Gael won the third set by 6-3.
“So I tried to get in his head and tried to create something new for him to see, and I did”.
The pattern continued and sections of the crowd on Arthur Ashe stadium booed Monfils.
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”. “The last two sets were really tough”. Monfils even repeatedly tried to serve and volley, a style he nearly never employs, and erred often.
“I guess I’m working, I’m learning”. “The guy is killing me, you know”. Nope. In a blink, Monfils came to life.
The crowd’s venom woke Monfils up, however, and he won five straight games to lead 5-2. By the end, he was hitting second serves in the low 80s miles per hour or below.
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.
Asked what worries he might have about his health, Djokovic replied, “Thankfully, it’s behind me”.
Monfils’ response to that criticism, and to questions about his freakish tactics during the match, were honest, refreshing and at times, even sad.
Djokovic, looking to win his third of four Majors this year, said: “Sometimes you don’t have an answer to these kinds of questions”.
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The U.S. Tennis Association held a news conference during the U.S. Open on Friday to announce its partnership with the team event, which will debut in Prague in September 2017.
