Affectionately dubbed “The Stanimal” by his compatriot Roger Federer, the 31-year-old vigorously battled past a tired Kei Nishikori and into his third career Grand Slam final, 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2.
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Novak Djokovic shakes hands with Gael Monfils after winning the semi-final encounter at US Open.
Third-seeded Wawrinka withstood an early onslaught from sixth-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan, asserting himself in the later stages to claim a 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Gael Monfils reacts after loss against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their Men’s Singles Semifinal Match on Day Twelve of the 2016 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 9, 2016 in the Flushing, Queens.
“I won’t win a match like that but I can win maybe 15 minutes, two more games, one more game”.
In a freakish and disjointed match played in brutal heat and humidity, Djokovic deconstructed the flat Frenchman, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2, to advance to his sixth US Open final in the last seven years.
Nishikori, coming off his own five-set quarter-final triumph over world number two Andy Murray, seized the initiative with a near flawless first set.
Win or lose, Djokovic will have secured his No. 1 ranking well into 2017 and cemented his standing as the best and most dominant player on the tour. He will be competing in his seventh Grand Slam final in two years.
After falling 5-0 down in the opening set, Monfils gave the impression he had lost interest as he stood well inside the baseline to return serve in casual fashion.
Kerber won her first U.S. Open title and the second major trophy of an out-of-nowhere breakthrough season, taking five of the last six games to beat a fading Pliskova 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 on Saturday.
Monfils, playing in only his second grand slam semi-final after making the last-four at the 2008 French Open, theatrically hobbled off the court and was booed. “He loves to come up with a variety in his game”. “I have nothing personal to him, so I’m very sad to hear that”, Monfils said. There is no doubt that Wawrinka is a supreme player.
Although Djokovic holds a 19-4 record over Wawrinka, including two victories since that Roland Garros surprise a year ago, Wawrinka welcomed the chance to take him on again. “I want to make them suffer and that’s what I did against Del Potro and today as well”, Stan said after the match. “I can push him a little bit to defend also myself, (to get more) more confidence, and put him out his balance. And I try my best, ‘” Monfils said in his postmatch news conference. When the guy is too good, playing clean and you’re playing not that good, you need to change. The Serb has hardly played meaningful full matches this tournament, although, you can argue that he is the fresher of the two players going into the final.
“I know it is not natural because first question is you’re not competing”. “It was really exhausting because the opponent I played loves to stay in the back of the court and always being another ball back”. I knew I could fight for three, four, five hours.
The battle saw Djokovic race ahead initially before Monfils exhibited some distinctive tactics to claw his way back into the match.
Down 2-5, Djokovic took massage treatment on his left shoulder during the changeover then staved off a set point in unusual four drop shot game.
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“This is one of the craziest matches I’ve ever seen”, McEnroe said. “Definitely, I tried to get in his head and create something new for him to see”.
