Tennis: Djokovic Into US Open Last Four

Defending champion Novak Djokovic is through to the US Open semi-finals after a knee injury forced Jo-Wilfried Tsonga to quit when trailing 6-3, 6-2.

Djokovic, 29, has completed just two of five matches in New York, benefiting from a walkover and two retirements.

He will face another Frenchman in the last four after Gael Monfils beat compatriot Lucas Pouille 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

“This was the scenario that I needed and I wished for,” said Djokovic, who has faced his own health issues.

The Serbian world number one arrived at Flushing Meadows nursing injuries to both his left wrist and right elbow.

“I got a lot of days off and recovered my body,” he said. “Right now I’m feeling very close to the peak. That’s the position where I want to be.”

Monfils is through to the second Grand Slam semi-final of his career

Pouille made 44 unforced errors as the five-set win over Rafael Nadal appeared to take its toll on the 22-year-old.

Monfils maintained his momentum either side of a 15-minute rain delay to seal his first Grand Slam semi-final appearance since the 2008 French Open.

“It’s a court I love,” he told the New York crowd. “I always say that the French is my home, but this one is my second.”

Monfils, 30, has yet to drop a set in five matches at Flushing Meadows.

Second seed Andy Murray takes on Kei Nishikori on Wednesday, before Juan Martin del Potro and Stan Wawrinka play the last of the quarter-finals.

In the women’s draw on Tuesday, Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki beat Anastasija Sevastova 6-0, 6-2 in another match marred by injury, with the Latvian severely hampered by a twisted ankle.

Wozniacki won easily to set up a semi-final against German second seed Angelique Kerber, who beat Italy’s Roberta Vinci 7-5, 6-0.

BBC

Tennis: Djokovic Into US Open Last Four