Novak Djokovic reaches 10th consecutive US Open semi-final after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retires injured

ByEurosport

Updated 07/09/2016 at 16:41 GMT

Novak Djokovic reached his 10th consecutive US Open semi-final when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga retired injured at the start of the third set when trailing 6-3 6-2.

Novak Djokovic - US Open - 2016

Image credit: AFP

Djokovic got his third free pass in the tournament, advancing when his opponent, Tsonga picked up a knee injury just before the start of the third set.

The world No. 1 has completed just two matches against Jerzy Janowicz and Kyle Edmund en route to the semi-finals where he will play Gael Monfils.

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"I have to say it again, I really wish Jo a quick recovery," said 2016 Australian and French Open champion Djokovic.

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It's never nice to be on court in the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam and retiring after a few sets. I know Jo well, he's a fighter, somebody who loves the big stage, and this is something I'm sure he didn't wish for.

His previous opponents Jiri Vesely and Mikhail Youzhny also retired and although he played two full sets with world No. 11, Tsonga, the Frenchman was unable to continue following medical treatment.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France (L) greets Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the net after Tzonga was forced to retire due to injury in their 2016 US Open Men's Singles match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on September 6, 2016.

Image credit: AFP

The top seed saved a break point in the fifth game of the first set before his opponent gifted him the breakthrough in the next with a series of unforced errors, including three double faults.

But 12-time major winner Djokovic failed to capitalise and the Frenchman immediately struck back after the Serb missed a sitter at the net.

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With the unforced error count mounting for the Frenchman, Djokovic showed incredible defensive capabilities to retrieve the ball from impossible angles to break again before duly serving out the opening set.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France hits a shot to Novak Djokovic of Serbia on day nine of the 2016 U.S. Open tennis tournament at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

Image credit: Reuters

Tsonga had beaten Djokovic six times from their 21 meetings, but only once when he had lost the opening set.

Things went from bad to worse for the 31-year-old former Australian Open finalist in the next when he was broken in the third game and the rampant Djokovic got the insurance of a double break following a lengthy seventh game and an ace sealed the set.

Djokovic, who holds a remarkable record of 164-1 after winning the first two sets at Grand Slams, extended that winning streak when Tsonga received treatment on his knee and just a few minutes later he was forced to shake hands with the Serb at the net during the first game of the third set.

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"It's something I had already in the past," he said.

"When I have my knee, of course, it's already tough to play against one of the best tennis players.

"But when I don't have my knee, I have no chance to come back from two sets to love."

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