In Friday’s late semifinal, No. 3 seed Stan Wawrinka of Switzerland beat No. 6 seed Kei Nishikori also by 3 sets to 1.
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Monfils explained after the match that he was trying to alter his normal strategy against Djokovic, appearing lethargic and disinterested before firing a 100 miles per hour shot.
“It was tough conditions, it was really hot and humid so I knew it would be tough”, two-time grand slam victor Wawrinka said.
This matchup will be Djokovic’s seventh U.S. Open final, and Wawrinka’s first.
Nishikori, meanwhile, was denied a chance to improve on his runner-up to Marin Cilic in 2014.
Djokovic, a 6-3 6-2 3-6 6-2 victor against Monfils, is prepared for a sterner test from Wawrinka.
Nishikori had taken the game to his opponent, following up his groundstrokes with regular forays to the net but he was less clinical in the second and allowed Wawrinka to grab a foothold.
Nishikori took the first set 6-4, then went up an early break in the second.
Wawrinka, on the other hand lost the opening set to Nishikori but bounced back to seal the match by winning the next three sets.
Wawrinka did not reach a Grand Slam semifinal until his 35th appearance in a major, at age 28.
So the fluky way his U.S. Open has gone is a benefit, he figures.
Djokovic and Wawrinka will meet in the men’s final on Sunday. “I think that’s all we were thinking about and feeling”.
The Swiss No.1, Wawrinka, showed massive improvement in his form by blasting past Kei Nishikori in four sets and three hours, while Djokovic needed four sets in a freaky win against Gael Monfils. “I know it’s not good, but I made a sign to my coach and say, ‘OK, I’m going to Plan B, actually, ‘” Monfils said.
“I know I have some ups and downs during the year. So that’s what I’m focusing (on) here: to fight, to suffer, to accept to suffer, to accept that the player in front of me (is) playing better”, he explained.
The once-dominant Big Four act is no more. “That should be on my side. luckily, I managed to get it back”. “I got to change a little bit”, Monfils said.
Djokovic reached his 21st Grand Slam final and seventh at the U.S. Open with a unusual 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Gael Monfils (GAH’-ehl mohn-FEES’).
Rio 2016 bronze medallist Kei Nishikori fell at the semi-finals of the US Open, with fatigue playing a role in his loss to Stan Wawrinka.
The US Open Men’s Singles Final is scheduled on Arthur Ashe Stadium, 11 September 4pm (9pm BST).).
He was roundly booed again by sections of the 20,000-strong crowd as he dropped the first game of the third set.
Novak Djokovic has won a weird first set against Gael Monfils in their U.S. Open semifinal. Monfils at times seemed uncaring about the outcome of the 2 1/2-hour match, hitting slices or making truly half-hearted, half-swinging strokes.
When Monfils dumped his eighth double fault to gift wrap the break at the start of the third set incited the wrath of the crowd, which jeered and booed the man who has been a beloved competitor in NY. Djokovic had his fair share of struggles with his service game and looked to be cramping up at times.
Miscue after miscue started coming from Djokovic, and Monfils won three games in a row, before eventually dropping a set for the first time all tournament.
“There’s not only one way to play tennis”.
Neither a date nor site has been chosen for 2018. I don’t think Djokovic will wilt under the pressure on a second final meeting against Wawrinka and I expect Djokovic to rally his way to a 13th Grand Slam title.
Meanwhile, the unseeded German-Croatian team of Laura Siegemund and Mate Pavic has bagged the Mixed Doubles title.
“I have a great partner”.
The World No 1 has never had an easier route in a Grand Slam, having played only two full matches before the last four clash with the Frenchman – and it seeed like another stroll for Djokjovic in the first two sets, against the Frenchman whose mind and game was all over the place. “Our games match. He’s a great server”. But I guess that was part of his tactics.
They will split $150,000 in prize money for earning the title.
About his approach to the final, he then said, ‘I have an extra day now to recover and get ready for the finals, which is where definitely I desire to be whenever I come to the Grand Slam.
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Ram and Vandeweghe also were first-time partners and eliminated defending champions Martina Hingis and Leander Paes in the second round.
