In the first women’s quarterfinal, Roberta Vinci fell apart after losing the opening set on a foot fault, allowing No. 2 seed Angelique Kerber to take the last nine games and win 7-5, 6-0.
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Gael Monfils is back in a Grand Slam semi-final after an eight-year wait, pummelling fellow Frenchman Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-3, 6-3 to reach the US Open last four on Tuesday.
Novak Djokovic has eased into the semi-finals of the US Open in NY following a walkover victory against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who called the match after just 81 minutes due to an injury to his left knee. Today’s quarter-finals in the other half of the draw feature three top 10 players in Murray, Stan Wawrinka and Nishikori, plus the resurgent Juan Martin del Potro.
Australian and French Open champion Djokovic came to NY with question marks, having lost in the third round at Wimbledon and the first at the Rio Olympics while battling a nagging left wrist injury. The top seed is not anxious about any lack of rhythm.
The extra rest has proven timely for Djokovic, who arrived in NY nursing injuries to both his left wrist and right elbow and the the top seed said: “I am not really concerned”.
“This was the scenario that I needed and I wished for”, said Djokovic.
“Obviously I was aware of it”, Djokovic said of Tsonga’s physical woes.
“I’d say Novak would be the favorite”, Murray, the Wimbledon and Olympic champion and world No. 2, said Wednesday after losing to Nishikori in a five-set quarterfinal epic that lasted almost four hours.
Asked whether he had any concern about the lack of match competition over the past two weeks, Djokovic replied: “Not really”.
Monfils finished 24th seed Pouille with his 13th ace to lead off a huge day for the French, who placed three men in the quarter-finals of a grand slam for the first time since the 1947 French Open.
Djokovic, who earlier this season joined Rod Laver and Don Budge as the third man to hold all four slam titles at once following wins at the Australian Open and French Open, said the rest was much appreciated.
Monfils said he “might watch a little bit” of Djokovic vs. Tsonga, pulling for what he called “a full French semifinal”. He’s very charismatic. Plays with a smile. “Enjoys tennis. Enjoys life”.
“He seems more focused at this time of his career and I am definitely expecting a tough battle”.
The 30-year-old Frenchman is regarded as the sport’s most enthusiastic showman, happily hurling himself to the left or right to retrieve a ball.
“It’s a court I love”, he told the crowd during an on-court interview.
“I think when I dive on the court, I do not dive for people”. “Definitely I want to win the point”.
Tsonga had his chances in the first set but was predictably punished by Djokovic, who was consistent as his opponent faltered. From that point, Djokovic dominated. “I’m more than happy”.
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“I’ve never experienced anything like this, ” Djokovic said.
