World reacts to bizarre Monfils- Djokovic semifinal

NEW YORK — On Friday afternoon at the US Open the first men's semifinal was heavily anticipated and then heavily criticized. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, fresh from a weird path to get to this round, was then met by an even weirder Gael Monfils. The Serb would survive the chaos with a 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 win.

But the match wasn't about Djokovic at all, as the No. 10 seed shocked the world with bizarre play, from half-hearted slaps to acts of desperation (amidst few flashes of brilliance). The performance included both a chorus of boos and a smattering of tweeners.

Monfils' good friend Victoria Azarenka seemed the most confused.

Six-time US Open champion Chis Evert was not entertained.

To his credit, Monfils kept it very professional in post-match press.

"No, at the beginning I think, you know, Novak was playing good. I didn't serve great, you know. It was very quick 5-0. I get to change a little bit, you know. I get to change..." he said. "So, yeah, definitely I try to get in his head. You know, try to create something new for him, you know, to see. And that was it."

Some people sided with Monfils, agreeing there was a method to his madness.

Monfils defended himself after the match, saying he was just trying to change up his strategy.

"I just want to find a solution," he said. "Sorry if it wasn't, I mean, academic, but at the end, you know, when you change, you change with what you got."

The clash wasn't a total washout with Monfils battling back to win the third set.

Monfils even addressed the critics (particularly commentator John McEnroe).

"When I decide to play like that for half a set I knew it is gonna be different. But at the end I'm not playing for those people. I play for myself. I try to win..." Monfils said. "If those people talking, talking, come help me. You know, I'm more than happy to have them help."

"I'm sorry if you think I'm unprofessional, but I guess I'm working, I'm learning," he added. "I think I'm failing, for sure, a lot, but I try to stand up."

Djokovic is now one win away from defending his 2016 title.