NEW YORK -- Gael Monfils knew he probably couldnt match Novak Djokovics game, so he tried to get into his brain.The result was a bizarre semifinal Grand Slam match that had most pundits and commentators up in arms and fuming, while Monfils argued that his only crime was daring to depart from convention and doing everything in his power to reverse his dismal 0-12 record against Djokovic.Even Monfils borderline outrageous tactics were insufficient to bamboozle Djokovic, who survived some anxious moments to win in 2? hours, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-2.The match began predictably, and depressingly, enough for Monfils. Djokovic leaped to a 5-love lead. Then Monfils adopted a rope-a-dope suite of tactics. He stood flat-footed and seemingly disinterested to receive serve, then looped back short moon balls, daring Djokovic to attack. Sometimes he took reckless swipes at serves or foolishly charged the net at inexplicable times.Commentators, spectators, pundits all were baffled, unsure if Monfils was tanking or pursuing some silly strategy. ESPNs John McEnroe called it the Dont Try strategy. Others used words like bizarre and absurd.The odd thing? It worked. Djokovic was clearly rattled and his game ran off the rails for a while. From 0-5, Monfils bunted and slashed and rope-a-doped his way back to 3-5, 15-40, with Djokovic serving. Monfils bought himself some much-needed breathing room. The process wasnt pretty, but it was effective.The iconoclastic Frenchman later said his strategy was valuable but that critics dont want to see it because theyre too hung up on convention.Everyone is like, Play tennis like this. Do this, he said. But when the guy is too good, you change. I am not academic; I try to be better.Many witnesses to the match had trouble understanding -- or perhaps it was sympathizing -- with the way Monfils chose to play. Clubbing 52 unforced errors, as Monfils did in this match, is not a very good way to win friends and influence people. Its also undeniable that Monfils dramatic shift of tactics turned a potentially ghastly blowout into a strange, sharp-edged and fairly competitive match.Monfils was similarly slapdash in the second set, by the end of which the crowd was getting restless and demanding better tennis. Spectators periodically booed Monfils. When he fell behind 0-30 in the first game of the third set, someone cried out, Play tennis! When he lost the next score to make it 15-40, Monfils was roundly booed.Given that a large number of spectators were listening to McEnroe and his fellow commentators on earpieces, theres a good chance they were egged on by the dismay of the experts.If at the end I had the mic, I would say to the audience, Stop saying that Im unprofessional, Monfils said. The guy is killing me, you know. Im just embracing the fact the guy is too good for me and trying to switch strategy.Monfils did begin playing a more familiar brand of tennis soon after that early break and a Djokovic hold. Monfils won four games in a row with the kind of electric shot-making that makes him such a popular figure. He won the set, but his own analysis was confirmed. Djokovic was just too good for him if the both played straight up, conventional tennis.I could have expected it in a way, Djokovic said of the odd match, without a trace of anger. I was caught off guard. But thats Gael. He loves defense, impossible shots, long rallies.Shortly after the match, McEnroe summed up his disappointment in Monfils performance. He predicted that the players in the locker room would have nothing but contempt for it. He called it the ultimate backdoor effort.Monfils offered a responseIm very sad to learn that such a legend criticize me, Monfils said, because at the end, what I can say to John is, You know, John, I want to be the best. Its tough, you know. And I try my best.Monfils might have added that when the front door is always locked, theres no choice but to try going around the back. Oliver Ekman-Larsson Coyotes Jersey . Fernandez, coached in Toronto by former two-time Olympic silver medallist Brian Orser, scored 267.11 points and is the first champion to successfully defend since Russias Evgeny Plushenko in 2005 and 2006. Niklas Hjalmarsson Coyotes Jersey . 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Rogue One: A Star Wars Story hits theaters on Friday, and for the second time in a Star Wars installment, the film features a woman as the lead protagonist.Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones), a young rebel, leads a team to steal the plans for the Empires deadliest weapon, the Death Star. For Star Wars fans, this plot point is well known, as it is discussed in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope and provides the backbone for the mission at the heart of that film.In honor of Jones role as Erso, weve put together a list of five more of our favorite roles featuring some boss women. This is not a comprehensive list -- just a couple of faves. Let us know what badass women you love!Rey (Daisy Ridley) -- Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens (2015)Her last name is a mystery (is she a Skywalker, a Kenobi?!), and shes a mechanical wizard. Rey shows everyone that women can be smart (she can pilot anything), gifted (hello Force sensitivity) and generally awesome.?Gamora (Zoe Saldana) -- Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)She has green skin and is apparently the adopted daughter of Thanos, a big baddy in the Marvel world (cinematic, and comic). She kind of hates him, though, and uses her considerable physical ability to help save the universe (obviously).Dr. Jillian Holtzmann?(Kate McKinnon) -- Ghostbusters (2016)So, all of the women in Ghostbusters were pretty awesome, but Holtzmann totally stole our hearts. Aside from designing all of the ghost-corralling weapons the new team uses, shes also pretty adept at ghostbusting herself. You just got Holtzmaanned, baby!Nurse Coffy Coffin (Pam Grier) -- Coffy (1973)This film throws it all the way back to the Blaxploitation era, when Coffy, a nurse, takes on a gang of drug dealers all by herself after her sister becomes their latest victim.dddddddddddd. Vigilante justice at its finest.Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman) -- Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (2003) & Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (2004)After Beatrix Kiddo wakes up from a coma, she is out for revenge in this two-film story. She hunts down all of those who had a hand in her attempted murder and the loss of her unborn child. Its messy and violent, but make no mistake: Kiddo is an absolute BAMF.Honorable Mentions:Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) -- Numerous Marvel filmsNatasha Romanoff, also known as Black Widow, has been a staple in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since her appearance in Iron Man 2. A trained Russian assassin looking to even out some of the red in her ledger, Romanoff is one of the mortals in the Avengers group. Shes a boss and a half, and totally deserves her own film. Just sayin.Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot) -- Wonder Woman (2017)Before bringing the pitchforks, technically Wonder Woman isnt out yet, which is why shes not on the list above (yet). Obviously, as the most recognizable female superhero of all time, she is a complete maverick. There really isnt much to say, except that shes Wonder Woman, and come June 2, 2017, I will be glued to my seat in the theater. ' ' '