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Revisiting the very first Djokovic vs Monfils 2005 US Open Clash
2 Comments · Posted by Scoop Malinowski in Bios
Novak Djokovic and Gael Monfils played each other for the first time as professionals at the 2005 US Open on an outer court, I believe it was court 8 or 9. It was a late afternoon match in the hot sun which extended the five set distance.
Djokovic was still largely unknown at age 18 while Monfils was a top rated ITF junior at 19. Djokovic lead 75 46 76 before being bageled in the fourth set.
I arrived at the match in the fifth set just in time to witness the drama.
The match was on serve in the fifth at 3-3 if I recall correctly and then Djokovic appeared to suffer from the heat. After a long rally which Monfils won, Djokovic collapsed on the court near the service line. He was basically given a long timeout by the chair umpire and received medical attention.
After a few minutes delay the match resumed and Djokovic did it again – he lost a long point and again collapsed on the court.
I remember feeling horrified for Djokovic and actually fearing this young kid could have a stroke or heart attack or some other kind of severe health problem. That’s how urgent the situation appeared. Again, Djokovic was laying on the court receiving medical attention and after a delay of about ten minutes, he got up and resumed playing against Monfils.
Guess what? Djokovic recovered his full strength and was able to outplay and defeat Monfils 75 in the fifth.
Or perhaps, some observers of this match might say that Djokovic faked both collapses in order to break the rhythm of Monfils. One will never know for sure.
After the match, I remember seeing Djokovic defensively explain his side of the story to a group of English-speaking journalists who corralled him just outside media room one hallway. Djokovic was polite and a gentleman in the face of the attacking questions and did not lose his cool or show any disrespect. I was quite impressed by the maturity and intelligence of Djokovic, who a few minutes later did a full Biofile interview with me inside the locker room as we both sat on a locker bench.
It was a spectacular performance by the teenaged Djokovic, and a glimpse of the future of one of the most glorious careers in the history of tennis.
Tomorrow Djokovic and Monfils will resume their one-sided rivalry which currently stands at 12-0 for Djokovic. Tomorrow’s thirteenth meeting will be the duo’s third meeting at the US Open, including the 2005 first meeting and the 2010 quarterfinal which was won by Djokovic 76 61 62.
(Artwork by Andres Bella.)
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Leif Wellington Haase · September 9, 2016 at 12:22 pm
Scoop: I was at the Open that day in 2005 and saw most of the Djokovic-Monfils match, including the very odd fourth and fifth sets…felt bad for Monfils because of the long medical delays in the fifth and extremely impressed by Djokovic who was a much less heralded junior than Monfils, though far from unknown.
Djokovic at the time had most of the characteristics of the pre-2011 Djokovic: erratic serve, prone to mysterious maladies on court, and with a bit more of an all-court game than his current baseline/ counterpunching style. Monfils was…himself: or at least the same incredibly athletic and up and down player who has had a high level but up-and-down career. No question that Monfils is more dedicated right now than at any time in his life but the end result remains the same: Djokovic in 4.
Scoop Malinowski · September 10, 2016 at 8:55 am
What a great and unforgettable match that was Leif! A US Open classic – Interesting how Djokovic ALWAYS beats Lamonf – Gotta be so frustrating for poor Gael –