After two previous quarterfinal appearances, Gael Monfils is finally into the semis of the U.S. Open for the first time in his career. Standing in his way on Friday, however, is world No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic.
Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils will be squaring off for the 13th time in their careers at the ATP level when they battle for a place in in the U.S. Open final on Friday.
Djokovic is sweeping the head-to-head series 12-0, including 11-0 on hard courts. Their only meeting since 2014 came earlier this season in the Toronto semifinals, with the top-ranked Serb prevailing 6-3, 6-2. Monfils has been competitive in one of their two previous U.S. Open showdowns; he lost a controversial 7-5, 4-6, 7-6(5), 0-6, 7-5 thriller in the 2005 first round before suffering a more comprehensive 7-6(1), 6-2, 6-1 beatdown in the 2010 quarterfinals.
Having stumbled in the quarters on two occasions prior to this U.S. Open, Monfils has gotten over the hump in New York to be a part of the final four for the first time ever. Especially impressive is the fact that the 12th-ranked Frenchman has stormed through this fortnight without dropping a single set in routine wins over Gilles Muller, Jan Satral, Nicolas Almagro, Marcos Baghdatis, and Lucas Pouille. 
But if you think the No. 10 seed has played fewer sets than anyone else in Flushing Meadows, think again. Djokovic’s trek through Flushing Meadows has been remarkably fortuitous–and it was just what the doctor ordered for a player who had been dealing with arm issues since the Rio Olympics and missed the Cincinnati Masters. In addition to wins over Jerzy Janowicz (four sets) and Kyle Edmund (straight), the No. 1 seed has gotten two retirements (Mikhail Youzhny and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga) and a walkover (from Jiri Vesely).
Now Djokovic faces another opponent whose career has been plagued by injuries, but Monfils has stayed healthy and focused in 2016. His record stands at an awesome 40-11 and he could reach No. 5 in the race to London even if he loses on Friday.
“I love watching Gael,” Djokovic commented. “He’s one of the few players that I will definitely pay a ticket to watch. He’s very charismatic; plays with a smile, enjoys tennis. But also, he seems more focused at this time of his career. Especially on the hard court this year maybe he’s playing the best tennis he ever played. He’s very consistent. He hasn’t dropped a set; that says a lot about the level he’s on.”
The jury is still out on Djokovic’s level given his alarming lack of time on court this fortnight, but early returns were especially encouraging in his fourth-round rout of Edmund. There is no reason to think physical problems will suddenly reappear for a well-rested Djokovic, who should extend his head-to-head dominance of Monfils to 13-0 without too much trouble.
Pick: Djokovic in 4
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So monfils somehow retrieves a shot but then wastes that with a drop shot that lands inside his service box!!!!
I’ve always supported Monfils, just love watching him when he’s on. Have put up with a lot of his crap over the years. But today is just a new level of BS. How do you play like this when your serving out a set?
Djoker helping him out. Now tears the shirt. AD Gael
Deuce now.
Monfils woke up !
Game point.
What on earth did Novak do to his shirt? Are they both cracking up out there?
This is the wackiest match I have seen in some time!
Unreal set and match. Weirdest stuff I’ve seen in a long time
Winning that set just makes it worse.
He should be fined and rules should be changed so that he could also be suspended.
Despite all the crap he did in the first two sets, despite all this lack of effort I just can’t stop supporting the Frenchman. If he plays on this level he showed in the third everything is possible.
This Monfils, he has to do things the hard way and needs lots of encouragement from the crowd. He’s really a showman.
Oh here we go again! Novak getting his shoulder massaged.
Monfils has a moth on his back and it’s just staying there. Monfils is playing better with the moth!
The ESPN commies are laughing about the moth! Hey, if it helps Monfils get the break, so be it!
andy would have killed that moth…
Set 4 will be a joke. Bakery product.
hope so…
Monfils playing ‘normal’ tennis now and Djokovic is kind of crap….this is a contest now finally.
Monfils is actually the better player right now…winning more baseline rallies :s break point Monfils
I agree. Novak looks like crap.
surely there has to be something wrong with nole to be playing this bad?
well, I don’t think even Djokovic knows where his level is! If the reaches the final, I doubt he will be a confident man. It has been so weird for him.
agreed. but it’s not clear he’s gonna get there…
Well he has had the trainer out to massage the shoulder at least two times since I started watching again.
Why does Monfils keep bending over after every point?
Now they said the trainer is waiting to treat someone.
yeah the trainer is out there to treat Gael.
How can we believe he is in real pain after all that drama?! you have no idea NNY how he behaved in the first two sets…
0-40 to deuce on Monfils service game and he bending down after EVERY point as if he is in real pain…
Now,Monfils wins a very lucky point thanks to a net cord dead drop…Djokovic responds by swinging his arms up in the air and smiling at the crowd !?!!
i thought you said he was faking?
yeah I used the wrong words…shouldn’t have said real pain…he if faking and it is all drama and Novak Djokovic is playing shit. lol
SICK backhand DTL from Monfils to help him end the game with an easy forehand CC winner.
is it some kind of law of great champions that as they get older they stop being able to convert break point?
LOL!
Monfils drinking coke during the changeover..
a nice sugar rush and sugar high would be just the ticket!
Good grief! Novak DF’s away the break! Now the trainer is coming out for Novak.
insane chase by Novak! 15-40
if nole doesn’t convert a break point soon he is going to rip up his entire kit…
only his ROS is working…and that gets it done..and of course some good defense..
Fireworks from Monfils! 15-40 !! two break back points