Or so he says.
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Injuries to Jiri Vesely’s forearm (second-round walkover), Mikhail Youzhny’s hamstring (third-round retirement) and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga’s knee (quarter-finals retirement) made Djokovic something of a cameo performer at Flushing Meadows.
The head-to-head is so bad for Monfils at 13-1 and 12 in a row to Djokovic that it’s hard to really have huge confidence in Gael, but he’s played that well and that consistently and professionally this season that this just might be his time against a potentially less than fully fit opponent.
Djokovic easily held to love as Monfils continued to hit returns with no pace. He sliced shots back from both his forehand and backhand side, appearing lethargic and even disinterested.
It’s pretty clear to me that Monfils, having never beaten Djokovic before, mentally felt he needed to try something different because he already felt defeated, so he did something else.
Somehow, though, it actually worked briefly. Djokovic had his fair share of struggles with his service game and looked to be cramping up at times. But ultimately, it wasn’t enough.
Monfils’ antics did temporarily pay off as an unnerved Djokovic conceded three games in a row and was nearly broken for 5-4, before he finally closed out the set.
The duo have faced each other 12 times in ATP tennis and Grand Slam history, with Djokovic holding a 12-0 win-loss record. News stories displayed here appear in our category for Sports and are licensed via a specific agreement between LongIsland.com and The Associated Press, the world’s oldest and largest news organization.
On ESPN’s telecast, John McEnroe blasted the No. 10 seed Frenchman for a lack of effort.
“Everyone is not doing [these tactics] because of all the questions they’re gonna receive”, he said. I know what to expect.
Novak’s lack of any sort of a real test here in NY this fortnight will either help or hinder him and it does seem to be the case that fortune tends to favour the elite players, so I think we at least have to lay some of the Monfils bet off here.
“[Expletive] yes, I’m competing. When I try a little bit to play “original” tennis, that is where he killed me”. “Yes, I’m competing”, Monfils said, cursing for emphasis.
“But why would I stay 6-0 and not change anything?” I can push him a little bit to also defend myself. and put him out of his balance.
On match point, Djokovic brought a merciful finish to a funky match swatting a forehand return victor down the line.
Novak Djokovic usually has all the answers on the court, but he didn’t know what to say soon after his semi-final win over Gael Monfils at the US Open on Saturday morning (AEST). “I’m just embracing the fact the guy is too good for me, and trying to switch strategy'”.
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.
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.
“I try to show my guts and everything, good energy on the court, but I think it’s most important there shouldn’t be too many up and downs, especially downs”.
Eventually, the Arthur Ashe crowd became fed up with Monfils’ antics. Turns out even the man himself doesn’t know for sure. He came back to win the third set with some inspired play, using his elite speed to thwart Djokovic’s drop shots and frustrate the Serbian superstar.
Monfils forced a fourth set, and Djokovic ripped off his white shirt angrily.
But the second wind was short lived.
But it didn’t work in the long run as Djoko broke for 3-2 in the final set and then again to keep his dream of a third US Open alive.
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Commentators, spectators, pundits all were baffled, unsure if Monfils was tanking or pursuing some absurd strategy.
