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US Open: More luck for Novak Djokovic

Djokovic got his third free pass in the tournament, advancing when his opponent, Tsonga picked up a knee injury just before the start of the third set.

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Sevastova, playing in her first grand slam quarter-final, never recovered from falling and turning her right ankle in the second game of the opening set.

Djokovic is now 53-1 against French players and takes that record into his Friday semi (with two days off) against Monfils, who he is 12-0 against, including a straight-set win in Toronto just a few weeks ago.

No. 2 seed Andy Murray will face Nishikori on Wednesday in one quarterfinal, while Stan Wawrinka, the No. 3 seed, will take on a resurgent Juan Martin Del Potro in the evening session.

“As I said, this scenario with [an] easy [run] was ideal at this stage”. I think I have no shame to say it.

“I love watching Gael”, Djokovic said.

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic takes on Jo Wilfried Tsonga tonight live at 2:00 GMT.

Down two breaks at 2-5 in the second, he called for the trainer, wincing as his knee was manipulated. However, despite saving two break points in the very next game, Djokovic broke once more and was now serving for the set. “You know, I think it would be a great day if I can”.

The Lopezes, who are not related, move on to the semifinals to take on the victor of the match between Spaniards Pablo Carreno Busta and Guillermo Garcia-Lopez and No. 12 seeds Lukasz Kubot of Poland and Alexander Peya of Austria. Come on. To be honest, am I going to hurt myself for people? No. “Putting aside my injuries, I’m playing good tennis”. “I’m just keeping the routine as it is. With the roof will be different, because it was taking a long time and I lost this one 7-5 in the fifth”, Monfils said. My body was aching before and I really needed it.

“I never experienced something like this to have three retirements on the road to the semifinals”, he said.

Djokovic has now won each and every one of his 10 US Open quarterfinal matches, 10 straight Grand Slam quarters overall and 23 of the past 24. The 29-year-old Serbian champion defeated the number 11 seed with 6-3, 6-2 within the two sets.

Many fans at the evening session left feeling short-changed after both matches finished in quickfire victories because of injuries.

Caroline Wozniacki, a former No. 1 player who is unseeded for this tournament, continued her very strong play and punched her ticket to the semifinals with a dominant win over Anastasija Sevastova, 6-0, 6-2.

“Of course”, Pouille said, “I was a bit exhausted today”.

Monfils later said he was inspired by and respected the work ethic and example of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James.

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A hard year for Wozniacki, who meets Angelique Kerber in the semi-finals, has seen the 26-year-old Dane fall to No74 in the world rankings, but this has always been her favourite tournament and the former world No1 has twice finished runner-up here.

Novak Djokovic