“I thought that I came out with the right intensity”, Djokovic said.
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He chose to call it quits at the end of the set, suffering defeat to Djokovic for the 16th time in 22 matches.
Tsonga had his chances in the first set but was predictably punished by Djokovic, who was consistent as his opponent faltered. “That’s the position where I want to be”, the Serbian said.
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 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”.
The other men’s quarterfinal pits 2009 victor Juan Martin del Potro against twice grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka.
Coming into the semifinals, Novak Djokovic had only completed two full matches at the US Open.
With Djokovic just a game away from taking the set, the trainer was called for Tsonga as he seemed to be struggling with a left knee injury. I’ve worked very hard on the practice courts.
“It’s really all that I can do right now”. “I just kept going with my game plan”. I’m very grateful that I had a bit of time to recover. “Now I’ve reached the semi-finals and I’m feeling fresh, healthy and I’m playing better and better”. Tsonga hit a slice into the net which gave Djokovic the opening set. “Of course, this Grand Slam is very unique for me: I never experienced something like this – to have three retirements on the road to the semifinals”.
In the women’s draw, unseeded Caroline Wozniacki romped to a 6-0 6-2 win over Anastasija Sevastova, who was severely hampered by an ankle injury.
The two matches continued a run of one-sided contests in the night sessions.
In one fleeting move, Monfils returned the ball, crouched down to adjust his laces, and jumped back up to return a speedy forehand.
Sevastova’s movement was clearly affected by her injury and there were times when she appeared to be on the brink of tears.
He said he was more grateful for the extra rest than he was concerned about any lack of match play. “I kept serving well and made her run”, she said.
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After his streak of four consecutive major championships – the first time a man had done that in almost 50 years – was capped by his initial French Open title, Djokovic was upset in the third round at Wimbledon.
