Novak Djokovic has one job on Friday: Avoid being the Serena Williams of men's tennis.
Djokovic, No. 1 seed at the U.S. Open, takes the court about 3 p.m. ET to face Gael Monfils in the tournament's semifinals. Williams, top seed in the women's competition, lost her semifinal match on Thursday.
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Monfils is no easy mark, being the tournament's No. 10 seed. However, Djokovic has won all 12 of their previous matches. The most recent: a 6-3, 6-2 win at July's Rogers Cup competition.
Friday's second semifinal pits No. 3 Stan Wawrinka against No. 6 Kei Nishikori, beginning about 4:30 p.m. ET.
The men's championship match will be played on Sunday.
Williams lost to Karolina Pliskova in straight sets. She also will lose her No. 1 world ranking.
Pliskova faces Angelique Kerber for the women's title on Saturday.
Djokovic is trying to win his third Grand Slam title of 2016. He won the Australian and French opens but was eliminated early at Wimbledon.