“I think it is never easy to play quarter-final against a French guy, I think I handled it pretty good mentally and tennistically”.
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Tsonga, meanwhile, has dropped just two sets in four matches en route to the quarters, where he’ll be trying to deny Djokovic a 10th straight trip to the semi-finals – a run that includes Djokovic’s titles in 2011 as well as past year. As if the world No. 1 needed any help.
The Serbian champion remained undefeated in his matches until the US Open 2016 quarterfinals, wherein he faced a stronger opponent Tsonga.
Djokovic entered the Open with a balky left wrist that he injured right before the Rio Olympics and contributed to his first-round loss to eventual silver medalist Juan Martin del Potro.
But he won’t under-estimate the threat posed by Nishikori, who made the final in NY in 2014 having knocked out Djokovic in the semi-finals.
“I have played so many times”, Djokovic said.
‘I put myself in a position again to be one match away from the final.
Djokovic was leading 6-3, 6-2 Tuesday night when the ninth-seeded Tsonga grabbed his left knee once again, grimaced and said he could not continue the match on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The 10th-seeded Pliskova won 6-2, 6-2 in just 57 minutes Wednesday, losing only one point on her serve in the first set.
When Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired trailing the world No. 1 in Tuesday’s quarterfinals 6-3 6-2, it marked the third time during the tournament that Djokovic benefited from a walkover or retirement.
The second quarterfinal was an all French affair with seasoned Frenchman Gaël Monfils registering a comfortable straight set 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 victory over his fellow countryman Lucas Pouille. The world No?1 arrived in NY as a persecuted figure, haunted by rumours of private angst and physical frailty.
The 29-year-old Serb, who came into this event a little nicked up, doesn’t need any luck – but he has gotten oodles of it here. But Monfils needed just three sets to take down Pouille, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.
“I’m feeling very good”.
‘Of course this Grand Slam is very unique for me.
“I know Jo for a long time, we grew up playing in the junior circuit as well”.
These two have played 13 times in the past and Djokovic has won 12 of those meetings. Women: No. 1 Serena Williams vs. In his last appearance at this stage in 2014, he squandered a two sets lead against Roger Federer.
The remaining quarter-finals take place on Wednesday with Wimbledon and Olympic champion Andy Murray of Britain facing sixth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan and third-seeded Stan Wawrkina of Switzerland facing Juan Martin del Potro, the 2009 champion whose career was almost derailed by a series of wrist injuries.
While Djokovic clearly wants to end the Frenchman’s fortnight, he admits that he’s a fan of the marvelously gifted Monfils.
Connors featured in one of Armstrong’s most famous storylines when he played the 1991 US Open as a wildcard ranked at 174 in the world.
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Novak Djokovic seems to have lady luck favouring him at the US Open. “It’s going to be important to try to dictate and be aggressive on the court”.
