No. 3 Novak Djokovic dominates 1st set tiebreaker vs. Gael Monfils

No. 17 Frenchman Gael Monfils got off to a fast start with an early service break against world No. 3 Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinal match this afternoon at the U.S. Open. Djokovic just won the tiebreaker by a 7-2 margin as Monfils lost all four serves he hit.

Wearing a shirt with no sleeves, gray Bermuda shorts with kind of a plaid pattern, tension bands on both knees and gold trim on his shoes, Monfils was a vision of athleticism who looked as if he could be playing hoops on the West 4th Street court in Manhattan. At one point on a ball at his feet, Monfils leaped in the air and attempted to reach behind himself and swat the ball forward between his legs. Tough to do when you're in the air, and the ball didn't come close to making it over the net but it was entertaining.

But at deuce in the eighth game, Monfils whiffed on a ball that was held up by the wind and then missed a volley as he lost his serve and let Djokovic even that set, 4-4. Monfils was down a point twice in the 12th game but held on to force the tiebreaker. However, he didn't win a point on his own serve, and a line call that went against Djokovic was reversed and he won the point on the replay for a 4-1 lead on his way to a 7-2 advantage in the tiebreaker to win the first set, 7-6.

The second set has begun with Djokovic breaking Monfils in the first game. Not a good sign for the Frenchman after such a strong start. But no matter what happens, his shorts should be a popular item in the sportswear shops.