Djokovic makes more history with his short cut to the semi-finals

The Serb was leading Jo-Wilfried Tsonga by two sets to love, before the Frenchman retired hurt in the third with a knee injury. It’s the third opponent to pull out with an injury against the defending U.S. Open champion in this year’s tourney.

Elsewhere in New York, Caroline Wozniacki progressed to a fifth US Open semi-final after overcoming Anastasija Sevastova 6-0 6-2. The man Djokovic met in the third round, Mikhail Youzhny, stopped after six games that took 31 minutes because of a strained left hamstring. It’s very hard to remember a match where he wasn’t hitting the ball clean, maybe one or two a year.

“I feel really sorry for her as I have had that injury before”, said 26-year-old Wozniacki, who will now return to the top 30 as a result of her surprise run in NY. “I think he’s a great champion.

Now I know him a little bit better”, Siegemund said during the trophy ceremony.

“I’d say Novak would be the favorite”, Murray, the Wimbledon and Olympic champion and world No. 2, said Wednesday after losing to Nishikori in a five-set quarterfinal epic that lasted almost four hours. He beat me a few years ago here [2014] quarterfinal five sets.

Djokovic had called the trainer at 5-2 for some massage on his left shoulder and then he tore open his shirt in anger, bare-chested as he conceded set point.

But after being two points from taking the first set against Kerber while serving for it at 5-4, 30-all, the No. 7-seeded Vinci faltered badly. He’s a better player than me, definitely. The Serbian reached the US Open semi-finals after having played only two complete matches, with three other opponents either giving him walkovers or retiring midmatch due to their ill-health.

Monfils is in excellent form in recent months, he won the tournament in Washington, and on the other competitions played in the quarter-finals at least. “I have no shame to say it”.

Djokovic, meanwhile, is seeking his 13th major championship, which would break a tie with Roy Emerson for fourth-most in tennis history among men, behind only Roger Federer with 17, and Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal with 14 apiece.

Speaking on court after his win, Djokovic who is through to his 10th consecutive semi-final in NY said, “I have to say it again, I really wish Jo a quick recovery”. But that appeared to rattle Djokovic, and Monfils won that game and held in the next one, slicing everything back to draw errors from his opponent or lure him into the net for a passing shot.

Monfils said a lack of match play won t make Djokovic any less unsafe.

“It really just depends how you feel, how your season has been, how many matches you have played throughout the year”.