NOVAK DJOKOVIC SURVIVES WEIRD TENNIS MATCH AGAINST GAEL MONFILS, JOINED BY STAN WAWRINKA IN THE 2016 U.S. OPEN TITLE MATCH, HE BEAT KEI NISHIKORI

Written by: on 9th September 2016
USA TENNIS US OPEN GRAND SLAM 2016
NOVAK DJOKOVIC SURVIVES WEIRD TENNIS MATCH AGAINST GAEL MONFILS, JOINED BY STAN WAWRINKA IN THE 2016 U.S. OPEN TITLE MATCH, HE BEAT KEI NISHIKORI

epa05532559 Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts as he plays Gael Monfils of France during their semifinal round match on the twelfth day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JUSTIN LANE  |

By Ricky Dimon

 

In what was nothing short of a bizarre semifinal showdown at the U.S. Open on Friday afternoon, Novak Djokovic held off Gael Monfils 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 to reach the title match for the seventh time in his career at this event. Djokovic needed two hours and 32 minutes to survive what became a roller-coaster of a match against the mercurial Monfils.

 

Ninety minutes into the contest, Djokovic found himself leading by two sets and a break at the expense of a flailing Frenchman. Boos even rained down on Monfils for a perceived lack of effort, after which he finally picked up the pace and got going. The No. 10 seed broke Djokovic twice in succession and ended up storming back to take the third set.

 

In the fourth, both men struggled physically amidst extremely humid conditions in addition to various nagging injuries. Monfils seemed to be dealing with knee pain, while Djokovic got some work done on both arms throughout the match. Without too much trouble, though, the top-ranked Serb restored order to the proceedings early in the fourth and managed to avoid using too much extra energy.

Gael Monfils of France reacts as he plays Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their semifinal round match on the twelfth day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/JOHN G. MABANGLO

 

“It was a strange match,” Djokovic admitted, “as it always is, I guess, when you play Gael–who is very unpredictable player. I could expect that in a way. I was 5-love up in less than 20 minutes and everything felt great. But that’s Gael; that’s the way he plays.”

 

Not surprisingly, Monfils did not find it strange at all. It was just Monfils being Monfils.

 

“Strange match why?” he asked in response to the first question of his press conference. “I think it was hot and humid; it was very physical. The heat (did) not really help us…. I think I [tried] my best every time. He was just too good.”

 

But it was still far from peak Djokovic, who has been mostly untested throughout the Flushing Meadows fortnight. The defending champion regretted his inability to meet the challenge during the brief moments in which Monfils raised his level.

 

“I think I should not have allowed him to come back to the match after (being) two sets to love up and 2-0 in the third,” Djokovic reflected. “That was the momentum shift when I lost my service game. He started believing in himself. I think he felt like he needs to step it up and start to play better, which he did–and then crowd was behind him. They wanted to see [a] long match. I think we both physically struggled a little bit towards the end of the third and fourth set.”

Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return to Gael Monfils of France during their semifinal round match on the twelfth day of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2016. The US Open runs through September 11. EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT

 

The nightcap resulted in another four-setter that was similarly energy-sapping, but it also featured far better quality. Stan Wawrinka has now reached the final of three different Grand Slams, as the 2014 Australian Open champion and 2015 French Open winner beat Kei Nishikori 4-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-2.

 

Nishikori, the 2014 U.S. Open runner-up, took the opening set and sets two and three lasted a combined one hour and 59 minutes, but the No. 6 seed wilted in the fourth under a flurry of huge groundstrokes by Wawrinka.

 

“I think we all know during the season I had some ups and downs,” the third-ranked Swiss said in his on-court interview. “I’m focused here; to accept the fight. I’m proud of myself [for staying strong]. I’m really excited. I’ve watched the (U.S. Open) final so many times. It’s going to be something special.”

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: , , , , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

TENNIS PLAYERS’ UNION – IS IT NEEDED? BY MARK WINTERS thumbnail

TENNIS PLAYERS’ UNION – IS IT NEEDED? BY MARK WINTERS

Roger Federer did it. So, did Caroline Wozniacki. They were the applauded and appreciated Australian Open singles winners. Much less well received was the brutal heat that turned the fortnight into the Dehydration Open.
Tennis News: Wilson’s Revolution Is Here – THE CLASH thumbnail

Tennis News: Wilson’s Revolution Is Here – THE CLASH

Tennis players and coaches around the world will receive this prototype racket as part of, what we believe is, the largest and broadest playtest in racket history.
ROTTERDAM TENNIS TOURNEY DIRECTOR RICHARD KRAJICEK ANNOUNCES DAVID GOFFIN TO PLAY IN 2019 ABN AMRO thumbnail

ROTTERDAM TENNIS TOURNEY DIRECTOR RICHARD KRAJICEK ANNOUNCES DAVID GOFFIN TO PLAY IN 2019 ABN AMRO

David Goffin, finalist of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in 2017, will come to Rotterdam for the sixth time in February. The 28-year-old Belgian is the ninth player who has been announced for the 46th edition.
JELENA VEMIC’S PHOTO GALLERY thumbnail

JELENA VEMIC’S PHOTO GALLERY

Click here to check out the latest photos from our tennis friend Jelena Vemic.
TENNIS NEWS FROM LONDON • 10SBALLS REPORTS ON THE LAWN TENNIS WRITERS HOLIDAY LUNCHEON AT WIMBLEDON’S DEBENTURE CLUB thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS FROM LONDON • 10SBALLS REPORTS ON THE LAWN TENNIS WRITERS HOLIDAY LUNCHEON AT WIMBLEDON’S DEBENTURE CLUB

The annual (British) Lawn Tennis Writer’s Association awards lunch was back at its old stomping ground at the All England Club after a year’s hiatus.