The first trophy will be won in the US Open on Friday when the mixed doubles title will be decided on Arthur Ashe Stadium but the main events are the two men’s semi-finals by which time at the end of the day we will know the two men who will compete for the final Grand Slam of the year on Sunday evening.
We’ve had a good look at the mixed doubles final and we expect the American duo of Vandeweghe and Ram to progress but they are absolutely no price at all so we’ll leave that one be and focus on the singles semis.
Novak Djokovic vs Gael Monfils
If you had said to me after his opening match that Novak Djokovic would be in this semi-final I wouldn’t have believed you but his US Open campaign has been quite remarkable since then in that only one more opponent has survived the entire match against him. One withdrew before their match and two more have retired midway through.
Gael Monfils might have had to play all five matches but he hasn’t exactly been tested too much. He is yet to drop a set and he has looked awesome. His dominance has been such that he has only been taken to one tiebreak in the 15 sets he has played and in front of a packed house in a stadium like this he has the perfect environment to perform in.
This could well become a mental battle for Gael Monfils. Has he shown in this US Open that he is capable of winning this tournament? Absolutely. However he will know he has played Djokovic 12 times and lost the lot so you get the impression the first set is going to be massive here. If Monfils wins it we could be set for one of those US Open classics. If he doesn’t this could turn into a damp squib. It isn’t one we’re going to bet on although the 10/11 on ‘La Monf’ to nail a set is mighty tempting.
Stan Wawrinka vs Kei Nishikori
This looks like it could be a cracking semi-final. Both men have ridden their luck in this US Open so far and both have had to come through a fifth set but you get the feeling Wawrinka is getting better and better as the tournament has gone on but I’m not sure the same can be said of Nishikori.
Credit must go to the Japanese for coming back and winning against Andy Murray but we shouldn’t forget that he was taking an almighty beating before the rain came and he was in the process of getting beaten again until that infamous noise came and Murray completely lost his focus. He can’t be relying on those circumstances here.
Stan Wawrinka was an underdog against Juan Martin del Potro in the previous round but he displayed a quite fantastic mix of power and tactical astuteness to come through in four sets and he looks ready to challenge for a third Grand Slam title so this one is set up nicely.
I don’t think this one will be won quickly. I wouldn’t be surprised if they go the full five sets like they did in the quarter final here two years ago but off the back of a five setter I’m not sure I could back Nishikori to come through in those circumstances. There is also the potential for the Swiss to power his Japanese opponent off court so however many sets it takes we’re with Wawrinka to make it to a maiden US Open final.
Tips
WON – Back S.Wawrinka to beat K.Nishikori for a 4/10 stake at 2.20 with Betfair
Back him here:
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