The irony is impossible to miss: Novak Djokovic arrived in New York looking vulnerable, nursing injuries to both his left wrist and right elbow. Now he is in the semi-finals, having played just two completed matches and a total of nine and a half sets. Ahmed Rizvi looks at his chances as well as the other three.
Three injured opponents
“You tell me what is going on … I don’t really know,” said Djokovic after quarter-final opponent Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired with a knee injury when trailing 6-3, 6-2. He was the Serb’s third opponent to pull out. Starting his campaign with a 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 win over Jerzy Janowicz, Djokovic did not hit a ball in the second round as Jiri Vesely withdrew with a forearm injury. In Round 3, he was up 4-2 in the first set when Mikhail Youzhny retired with a leg injury. In the fourth round, he beat Kyle Edmund 6-2, 6-1, 6-4.
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Next up is humble Monfils
Djokovic has spent a mere 384 minutes on court in reaching the last four, but his semi-final opponent Gael Monfils says the lack of court-time will not be an issue for the reigning Australian and French Open champion. “It’s very hard to remember a match where he wasn’t hitting the ball clean,” Monfils said. “I think he’s a great champion. He’s a better player than me, definitely. I have no shame to say it.”
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Place in first final at stake
Djokovic has a 12-0 record against Monfils. But the Frenchman, appearing in his first major semi-final since the 2008 French Open, fancies his chances. “You can be the best, but one match is enough,” Monfils said.
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Wawrinka has edge ...
The two opponents in the other semis, world No 3 Stan Wawrinka and No 7 Kei Nishikori, are a lot closer. Wawrinka, a two-time grand slam champion, leads the beaten 2014 US Open finalist 3-2 in head to heads. But Nishikori beat him in their most recent duel, the semi-final of the Canada Masters last month.
... but Nishikori’s spirits up
The Japanese comes in to the semis on the back of a morale-boosting five-set triumph over reigning Olympic and Wimbledon champion Andy Murray. Wawrinka’s highest-ranked opponent was No 46 Fernando Verdasco. Will Wawrinka and Djokovic set up a rematch of their 2015 French Open final? New Yorkers may prefer the latter.
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