Wawrinka recovered from a slow start to secure a 4-6 7-5 6-4 6-2 triumph against the Japanese sixth seed Nishikori in NY.
Advertisement
The hard-working Wawrinka stayed on track by coming up big on key points, saving 11 of 15 break points held by the talented Japanese at the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Kerber is the first woman from Germany to win the U.S. Open – and the first to get to No. 1 – since her idol and mentor, Steffi Graf, who got in touch via text message before the final.
“It’s a great feeling, ” Murray said in his post-match interview when reminded he’s accomplished something his more famous younger brother, Andy, has not by winning two major titles this year.
“Sometimes you don’t have an answer to these kinds of questions”, Djokovic said. With neither player obviously at 100% in the hot conditions, Djokovic was unable to capitalize on three break points in that set, which gave the third to Monfils. Kerber battled hard, but Williams prevailed 6-3, 7-5. In the end, he went out by a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 margin.
The shirt off his back: Even before Monfils walked off with the third set, Djokovic had torn his stylish white Uniqlo shirt out of frustration.
Djokovic rips his shirt during his semifinal match against Gael Monfils at the U.S. Open.
The ultimate outcome was only briefly in the balance, though.
On the grass courts of Wimbledon, Angelique Kerber bounced back to reach her second Grand Slam final of the year.
Djokovic had become the first player to reach a grand slam semifinal benefiting from three retirements and/or walkovers, which he said helped him as he tries to recover from arm, wrist and shoulder injuries.
Never more so than on this muggy afternoon, with the temperature at 90 degrees and the humidity above 50 percent.
Djokovic built an immediate 5-0 lead in the first set and, through the first two sets, continually drove Monfils far behind the baseline, setting himself up halfway to the net for putaway shots.
Monfils’ unpredictable behavior, serial serve-and-volleys, stalling, inconsistent effort and variety of questionable tactics that even included a left-handed forehand, affected Djokovic’s concentration and allowed Monfils back into the match.
“I was definitely a little bit exhausted, especially in the end”, the 26-year-old Nishikori told reporters. During points, he hit slices or made halfhearted, half-swinging strokes, then occasionally walloped a 100 miles per hour passing shot.
Somehow, the tactic was effective, for a short while, anyway.
“I know what to expect”, Djokovic said. But I guess I’m working, I’m learning.
“That is when I put my game to be aggressive”.
The world number one and defending champion won 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 and will face either Stan Wawrinka or Kei Nishikori in Sunday’s final where he will bid to win a third major of 2016 and 13th of his career. However, Wawrinka’s biggest win as a professional came over Djokovic previous year in the French Open final, and Wawrinka has won his past 10 finals in a row.
“It’s not easy when you have to play number two, number three, and, you know, Novak Djokovic was waiting in the finals”. Then came this 2 1/2-hour miniseries, topping them all for oddness. He had not lost a set entering the semifinals and the Frenchman known for his sublime talent and terrific shot-making was playing a more disciplined and focused brand of tennis.
After taking the third and breaking Nishkori at love for a 2-0 lead in the fourth, Wawrinka appeared to be on his way. All over but the shouting, right?
Along came the third set, and Monfils was again broken early. When he broke back to get to 2-all, he raised his right fist and the fans roared, now backing him.
Monfils was now at his best, including one spectacular point in which he took a long run to get to a short ball, then reversed direction for a leaping volley victor.
Advertisement
The Frenchman continued nonchalantly chiselling shots back from the baseline and he nearly broke again for 5-4, before Djokovic finally restored some order and closed out.
