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U.S. Open 2016: Novak Djokovic eliminates Gael Monfils in circus-like match

By Adam Zagoria, The Sports Xchange
Novak Djokovic of Serbia opens his eyes wide between points in his 4 set semifinal victory over Gael Monfils of France in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the 2016 US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 9, 2016. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI
1 of 5 | Novak Djokovic of Serbia opens his eyes wide between points in his 4 set semifinal victory over Gael Monfils of France in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the 2016 US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York City on September 9, 2016. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo

NEW YORK -- Novak Djokovic took a perfect 12-0 record against Gael Monfils into the US Open semifinals on Friday -- and that undefeated streak remains soundly intact.

In a bizarre match that was circus-like at times, the No. 1 seed and defending champion beat a sometimes-disinterested Monfils, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 in extremely hot and humid conditions in Arthur Ashe Stadium to advance to Sunday's final, where he will meet the winner between No. 3 Stan Wawrinka and No. 6 Kei Nishikori.

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"Gael is one of the best athletes on the tour, very flexible," Djokovic told the crowd of nearly 23,000. "He's very entertaining to watch. He had a great tournament and I do sincerely hope you all enjoyed our battle today."

Asked about Friday's second semifinal, a weary Djokovic said: "I'm going to take a lot of water, put my son to sleep if I can and then watch a little bit of that."

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Djokovic, 29, will be seeking his 13th career Grand Slam title and third of 2016, having already won the Australian and French Open crowns. The Serb has now reached the finals in 19 of the last 24 Grand Slam events, and appears to have clearly separated himself from the other members of the so-called "Big Four" -- Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray -- all of whom were out of the Open before the semifinals. (Federer did not enter while he rehabs a bad knee.)

Despite his winless record against Djokovic, Monfils inspired hope that he might be capable of putting up a fight and trying to make his first Grand Slam final. He had not lost a set entering the semifinals and the Frenchman known for his sublime talent and terrific shot-making was playing a more disciplined and focused brand of tennis.

But that all turned once the match began.

Djokovic broke Monfils twice to take a 5-0 lead in the first set. The Frenchman double-faulted twice on break point, at one point cranking a 138-mph second serve in dismissive fashion.

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The Frenchman appeared to be tanking toward the end of the first set by standing very close to the service line on Djokovic's serve and basically looking disinterested.

But Djokovic became unnerved and let Monfils come back to within 5-3. After going down 15-40 on his own serve, Djokovic closed it out for a 6-3 first set.

On ESPN, analyst John McEnroe said Monfils' early performance bordered on being "unprofessional" and called his lack of effort a "black eye for the sport."

"It's some sort of rope-a-dope tactic that's working," ESPN's Brad Gilbert said on air.

Early in the third set, fans began to boo Monfils during his service game and he looked at the crowd in the lower bowl and waved his palms upward to indicate that he wanted more. And indeed, the crowd booed again.

Still, after trailing 0-2 in the third, Monfils showed signs of life, partly by serving-and-volleying -- which he hadn't done in his previous three matches -- and broke Djokovic twice to go up 5-2. Djokovic had the trainer rub down his left shoulder at that point and then appeared to wince in pain at times.

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After going down 0-40 on his serve, Monfils won the fourth set by drilling a two-handed backhand down the line.

Asked to describe the conditions on-court, Djokovic said: "Humid. I think that's what we all were thinking about and feeling in the last couple sets. The conditions were quite different from most of the days in this tournament. It's the same for both of us but we kind of expected it. We heard it was going to be very warm and humid."

By the fourth set, both men were in physical trouble. Up 3-2 in the fourth, Djokovic used a medical timeout to get his right shoulder worked on by the trainer and Monfils headed back to the locker room briefly.

But Djokovic broke again for a 4-2 lead and then closed out the match by breaking Monfils with a forehand winner.

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