Roadblocks line up but Novak stays firm favourite for crown

NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic heads into the US Open semi-finals as the overwhelming favourite to go on and lift a third title in New York, but Kei Nishikori, Stan Wawrinka

Published on: Sep 9, 2016, 08:16:53 IST

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NEW YORK: Novak Djokovic heads into the US Open semi-finals as the overwhelming favourite to go on and lift a third title in New York, but Kei Nishikori, Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils are lined-up as potential road blocks.

World No 1 Djokovic takes a 12-0 career lead over Monfils into their semi-final on Friday while Nishikori looks to build on his shock five-set win over Andy Murray against Wawrinka.

Djokovic, chasing a third Major of the season and 13th overall, remains wary of the dangers posed by 30-year-old Monfils who is in only his second semi-final at the Slams.

Tenth-seeded Monfils has lost twice to Djokovic in New York — in the first round in 2005 and in the 2010 quarterfinals.

But he is enjoying one of the best spells of his career, winning the title in Washington and making the semi-finals at the Toronto Masters where he lost to Djokovic again. Monfils is on an impressive 19-2 run since Wimbledon but admits he’s the underdog against Djokovic, the 2011 and 2015 champion playing in a 10th successive semi-final in New York.

Djokovic should be the fresher having completed just two full matches in five rounds. He was handed a walkover into round three and was then the beneficiary of two injury-hit retirements. All of which means the Serb has spent just 4 hours and 34 minutes on court; Monfils has been out there four minutes short of 12 hours.

Nishikori reached the semi-final — his first at any Slam since he finished runner-up in New York in 2014 — with a triumph over world No 2 Murray.

Against Wawrinka, he trails 3-2 but won their last meeting in the Toronto semi-finals this summer. He also beat the 31-year-old in five sets in the quarters here in 2014.

With second seed Murray, fourth seeded Rafael Nadal and Milos Raonic, the fifth seed, all out of the picture, Djokovic is viewed as the most likely to win the title on Sunday. “I’d say Novak would be the favourite,” said Murray.

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