Djokovic deciphers Monfils code

NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic’s strange US Open path took another odd turn on Friday as the defending champion defied stultifying humidity and the controversial tactics

NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic’s strange US Open path took another odd turn on Friday as the defending champion defied stultifying humidity and the controversial tactics of Gael Monfils to book a title showdown with Stan Wawrinka.

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World No 1 and defending champion Djokovic prevailed 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in a bizarre semi-final that saw 10th-seeded Monfils roundly booed and accused of not trying.

Although Djokovic holds a 19-4 record over Wawrinka, including two victories since the Swiss player shocked him the French Open final last year, Wawrinka welcomed the chance to take him on again.

OFF GUARD

Djokovic admitted he was “completely caught off guard” when Monfils, down 0-5 in the first in 15 minutes, stood lackadaisically in the court and began chipping the ball back. The strategy paid off as Monfils reeled off three games in a row. “If I would get to the net he would go for the passing shot and hit some impossible gets and balls. But that’s Gael,” Djokovic said.

It was Djokovic who emerged with the set, however, and as the Serbian star raced through the second Monfils’s interest again appeared to wane. By the sixth game the 30-year-old had won just nine points, which he managed to nudge into double figures by the end of it.

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 jeered. He was booed again by sections of the 20,000-strong crowd as he dropped the first game of the third set. Monfils said his tactics were a deliberate attempt “to get inside his head”.

A more orthodox approach saw Monfils break back for 2-2 and again for 4-2 in a third set that saw Djokovic receive treatment on his left shoulder.

Although Djokovic saved one set point, and gave himself three break chances in the ninth game, Monfils was able to extend the match, marking the moment with a mighty roar to which Djokovic responded by ripping off his shirt.

“I think I should not have allowed him to come back to the match after two sets to love up and 2-love in the third,” Djokovic said. “He started believing in himself. I think the crowd disliked his efforts towards the end of the second set. I think he felt like he needs to step it up and start to play better, which he did.”

After giving back an early break in the fourth Djokovic had treatment on his right shoulder, but he broke twice more to close out the win.

Djokovic arrived at the semi-finals having played just two complete matches in five prior rounds after a walkover from one opponent and the mid-match retirements of two others.

BIG MATCH PLAYER

The Serb seemed eager for the final against Wawrinka. “He’s a big match player. He loves to play on the big stage, against big players, because that’s when he elevates his level of performance,” said 29-year-old Djokovic.

“He doesn’t get too stressed by the big occasion. He’s very powerful, big serve. Probably the best, most effective one-handed backhand in the world now. He can be very dangerous.”