It’s not whether Novak♊ Djokovic will win his semifinal Friday versus Gael Monfils, it is whether the Frenchman will finish the match slated to begin at 3 p.m. at Arthur Ashe Stadium.
At least that is how it has been going for Djokovic, the defendꦐing U.S. Open champion whose opponents have dropped like flies. In Djokovic’s five matches, only two have been completed to fi🐭nish. In the quarterfinals, Monfils’ countryman, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, quit after losing the first two sets, claiming knee soreness.
Djokovic came in with a sore left wrist that affects his two-handed backhand and those close to him admitted the🃏re was even consideration of pulling out of the Open. His voodoo doll is working.
In the other semifinal Friday, Kei Nishikori will face third seed Stan Wawrinka, marking the first time since 2006 only one member of the “Big 4’’ is part of the final four at the Open. That would be Djokovic, who won the Australian and the Fren🐷ch to give him 12 Grand Slam singles titles.
“Novak is in a very good position — not haviꦫng played much,’’ ESPN’s Cliff Drysdale told The Post.
“It’s a huge advantage for him — as fresh as he is. I do see him as [the] clear favorite now [to win it all]. I don’t know his exact wrist condition, but at Wimbledon, we were all talking about him winning all four majors for the Grand Slam. Suddenly he loses a couple of matches and we’re all so down on him. It’s premature. Clear favorite, especially with the absence of [Andy] 🔯Murray.”
Drysdale, who did ESPN’s first tennis broadcast 37 years ago, was at th✱e microphone for the two biggest upsets of the Open — Murray’s five-s💛et quarterfinal stunner to Nishikori and Rafael Nadal’s third-round ouster by Frenchman Lucas Pouille.
“I’m the giant killer,’’ Drysdale said.
Monfils is on a big roll, yet to drop a set at the Open, but Drysdale gives 𓆏him “a 20, 30 percent chance’’ versus Djokovic. He doubts, though, he’ll pull a retirement. Djokovic, in ཧhis 10th straight Open semifinal, is 12-0 lifetime versus Monfils.
“The Frenchman has a new attitude,’’ Drysdale said. “It’s an unbelievably speedy game. He moves as well as Novak and anyone else. He has a love of the game and will stay in it for [the] long haul. In the past he was shakꦍy mentally and liked to have too much fun. He’s contained it now. It’s genuinely a popcorn match.’’
Monfils has never won a Slam singles title — which has of♏fended ESPN’s John McEnroe, who railed this week he should ha🐼ve had five considering his talent.
“I don’t know abou♌t five majors — he hasn’t come that close,’’ Drysdale said. “It’s the kind of thing John will say sometimes. Obviously I don’t agree with that comment.’’
At the least, Djokovic expects a fun afternoon.
“I love watching Gael,’’ Djokovic said. “He’s one of the few players that I will definitely pay a ticꦓket to watch. He’s very charismatic. Plays with a smile. Enjoys tennis. Enjoys life. It’s in my eyes — what everybody is supposed to be like, whether you’re a sportsman.’’
In the second semifinal, Drysdale can’t see Wawrinka, in his third Open semifinal in four years, not advancing over the steady Nishikori. Wawrinka, perhaps bec❀ause he is in Roger Federer’s shadow in Switzerland, always flies under the radar.
“It’s Wawrinka’s match to lose,’’ Drysdale said. “[Nishikori] doesn’t have the arsenal, not quite the same power as Wawrinka. He’s very goo🎀d strategic court sense, but the power quotient makes a difference.’’
After beating Juan Martin del Potro in a four-setter that ended at 1:22 a.m. Thursday, Warwinka was taken aback by the question in the press conference on what motivates him since he’ll never catch the greats — Federer, Nadal, Djokovic in career Slam titl♐es. Wawrinka has two (French and Australian).
“So what s👍hould I do?,’’ Wawrinka said. “I’m 31 years old. Just go to the beachಌ? Not do anything?