NEW YORK -- Finally, after nearly a fortnight of generic coaches and trainers, family and friends, a male players box finally produced some serious star power.There were Hugh Jackman and Ben Stiller sitting next to each other Tuesday night in the top row of Novak Djokovics box. You had to wonder who was more thrilled to meet whom when six-time Grand Slam champion Boris Becker, Djokovics coach, introduced himself before the match.It wasnt the Q-Rating bonanza of Jay Z and Beyonce, who appeared in the box of Serena Williams earlier in the tournament, but it was pretty solid. The best Jo-Wilfried Tsonga could do? Roland Garros tournament director Guy Forget.What felt like a prizefight at the outset -- this was the 22nd meeting between the two -- quickly devolved into a master-level class in geometry. No. 1-seeded Djokovic was leading 6-3, 6-2 when Tsonga retired abruptly with a left knee injury.I came out with the right intensity, the level of my game has raised, Djokovic said. As tournament progresses, I feel like Im getting better.To have three retirements on the road to the semifinals, I can only wish all my opponents a speedy recovery.Is Djokovic concerned about the lack of playing time?Not really, he said. At this stage of the season, considering some of my physical issues, this is the scenario that I needed and I wished for. Got a lot of days off, recovered my body. Im feeling very close to the peak, and thats where I want to be.Djokovic, thus, advances to a Friday semifinal against another 30-something Frenchman, Gael Monfils.The 29-year-old Serb, who came into this event a little nicked up, doesnt need any luck -- but he has gotten oodles of it here.Through five matches, Djokovic has now played a mere nine sets and six games. Only two of his matches have gone the minimum distance of three sets, with a walkover and two retirements.At the beginning of Djokovics on-court interview, ESPNs Brad Gilbert wanted to know what exactly was going on.You tell me, I dont know, Djokovic responded. Obviously, I have to say it again. I really wish Jo a quick recovery. This is something Im sure he didnt wish for.Djokovic has now won each and every one of his 10 US Open quarterfinal matches, 10 straight Grand Slam quarters overall and 23 of the past 24.Hes also beaten Tsonga in 14 of their past 15 meetings.There were times when Djokovic, covering the court with an almost disquieting aplomb, could have been mistaken for the flashing, steel-slashing X-Men character Wolverine. Tsonga, the No. 9 seed, played more like the night watchman in Night at the Museum.Arthur Ashe Stadium, very close to its capacity of 23,700 spectators, was actually almost hushed at times. All those bodies seem to dampen the swirling sound that has visited matches when the seats are half full.In those moments, the only sound was the squeaking of Djokovics sneakers, the sound of impeccable footwork.Djokovic is acknowledged as the games finest returner of serve. His instincts and hand-eye coordination are extraordinary. For most of the match, he casually moved Tsonga from side to side, as if for his own amusement.And no one turns trouble into treasure, defense into offense, quite like Djokovic. With Tsonga serving a 3-4 but facing a break point, Djokovic stretched to hit a running forehand -- for a winner past a stunned Tsonga.Tsonga came into the match on a serving tear, but went out of the tournament meekly, seeing his serve broken four times in two sets. He double-faulted three times in a single game during the first set and four of five times overall.Djokovic, noticing that Tsongas first-serve speed had dropped significantly, knew something was up.But I held my concentration well, Djokovic said. I hung in there and stayed composed.Based on Andy Murrays superb summer, with wins at Wimbledon and the Rio de Janeiro Olympics, some folks have him favored to win this tournament.Djokovic, for his part, came into this event nursing a recurring left wrist injury, but he has found some unexpected time for rest and relaxation in the Grand Slam considered the most grueling of the four.Two matches short of the title, Djokovic is in a terrific spot, looking like a man poised to win three majors in a season for the third time, following 2011 and 2015.Im hoping thats going to happen again, Djokovic said. Grand Slams through the history of our sport have been the most prestigious.At the end of the day, Im trying to take every moment with appreciation. I put myself in a position to be two matches away from the title. Im not taking anything for granted. Wholesale Custom Shirts . PETERSBURG, Fla. Custom Shirts Fast . Peter Gammons, an analyst for Major League Baseballs network and website, drew the ire of hockey fans on Sunday when he criticized the two NHL teams on Twitter for their physical game the night before. http://www.shirtscustom.us/ .C. Lions has come to an end. Banks told TSN on Jan 2 that he had no interest in playing out the option year of his contract with the Lions in 2014, and he again made that clear in a conversation with Lions GM Wally Buono last week. Custom Shirts Outlet . PETERSBURG, Fla. Custom Shirts Cheap . The Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Texas Rangers all won on Sunday meaning the Rangers will host the Rays in a play-in game on Monday. SALT LAKE CITY -- Offense was hard to come by from both the Bulls and Jazz on Thursday night, but when Chicago needed baskets down the stretch, they turned to All-Star Jimmy Butler and future Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade.Butler scored 20 points and grabbed 12 rebounds as the Bulls defeated the Jazz 85-77.We found a way. We hung on, Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg said. On offense, youre going to have games like this over an 82-game schedule. Its going to come and go. Your constants have to be defense and rebounding. We did that all game long to give us a chance to win.The Bulls have won four straight, including three on the road.Chicago used 9-0 runs to start the third and fourth quarters that Utah never recovered from. Nikola Mirotic had a dunk, a steal and an assist during the fourth-quarter run that put the Bulls up 75-58.The Jazz cut the lead to 80-75 late, but Wade and Butler hit jumpers to put the game away.Wade scored 18 points for the Bulls and Robin Lopez posted his second double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.The way were playing right now, man, its fun, Butler said.The Jazz have lost two straight at home after going 4-1 during the preceding road trip.Rudy Gobert finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks for the Jazz as Gordon Hayward added eight points and 12 rebounds.The Jazz led 43-41 at halftime despite the Bulls shooting just 28.8 percent from the field. What the Bulls lacked in accuracy, they made up in volume -- taking 52 shots to Utahs 38 in the first half as the Jazz turned the ball over nine times.I dont know if its a one-game thing, Jazz coach Quin Snyder said of the offense. We werent very good, thats clear. Weve had bad games before offensively. We had some open shots, we didnt make them. ... Sometimes when youre missing shots you let it impact everything.dddddddddddd You just get stagnant.I dont see any reason, because we played this way tonight, that sirens are going off for our offense. ... Im not despondent. ... We didnt play well tonight and lost to a really good team.TIP-INSBulls: Doug McDermott missed his second consecutive game due to a concussion. ... Rajon Rondo missed his second consecutive game with a left ankle sprain. ... Butler scored at least 20 points and had five assists in his previous five games. He only had three assists Thursday.Jazz: Rodney Hood returned to the starting lineup after missing last game with an illness and scored 12 points. ... Boris Diaw started in place of injured Derrick Favors. ... George Hill missed his sixth consecutive game with a sprained right thumb.FAVORS OUTFavors had an MRI on Wednesday and is out for an undetermined amount of time with a left knee bone contusion. The knee has been bothering him since the preseason and hes been in and out of the lineup, missing all but one preseason game. Snyder doesnt think he returned too quickly. Its been a challenge for him, Snyder said. The main point is, you reach a point where youre not effective. That is where he has been, or youre less effective to the point where you need to address the situation in a different way.QUOTABLEWe just didnt push the pace enough, Hood said. I think we defended well. Theyre a good team, theyre playing well right now. But we just didnt play with enough energy offensively.UP NEXTBulls: Chicago travels to Los Angeles for a back-to-back with the Clippers and Lakers on Saturday and Sunday.Jazz: Utah travels to face the Rockets on Saturday. ' ' '