Djokovic to face Murray in French Open final

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Mail
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • WhatsApp
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Going for the career slam: Djokovic.

    There is a reason why they are two prominent figures of the fabled ‘Big Four’ – when a grand slam reaches its business end, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray know how to find another gear.

    It’s why it is no surprise the two 29-year-olds will face off in tomorrow’s French Open final after delivering their best performances of the fortnight in their respective semi-finals on Friday.

    Just three days ago, Djokovic was down a set to Roberto Bautista Agut in the fourth round and battling to deal with the heavy conditions to overcome the Spaniard. Last week, Murray had to fight through back-to-back five-setters against Radek Stepanek and Mathias Bourgue in the opening two rounds.

    But on Friday, Djokovic edged closer to capturing a fourth consecutive major title (are we calling it a Novak Slam yet?) and completing a career grand slam with a brutal 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 win over 13th-seeded Dominic Thiem, while Murray put together arguably the best clay display of his career in a 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 dismissal of defending champion Stan Wawrinka.

    Djokovic is into his fourth French Open final while Murray became the first British man since 1937 to reach the Roland Garros final and his triumph over Wawrinka ended his six-match losing streak against top-four opposition in grand slams.

    “Best performance of the tournament. As I was hoping after the long fourth round that I’m going to start playing better as the tournament progresses, and that’s what’s happening now,” said Djokovic after his 108-minute victory over Thiem.

    “So I’m very pleased with the way things are going.”

    Djokovic has had to play on three successive days due to the rain and he is grateful he now has Saturday off to prepare for the final.

    “I put myself in a position in which I wanted to be in of course, ever since last year’s final (when I lost to Wawrinka). I was hoping that the clay-court season would be successful in the other tournaments, but mostly in this one,” said the world No1.

    “It’s always high on the priority list when I start a season thinking about Roland Garros, and to be able to reach finals is really special. I give myself another opportunity to win the trophy.

    “For a change, it’s great to have a day off tomorrow,” Djokovic added with a smile. “I think it’s gonna serve well to recover, to get that energy supply, and Sunday I’ll give my all, as always.”

    Djokovic took a two-set lead inside 70 minutes but Thiem opened himself a tiny window to breathe when he broke the top seed for the first time and created a 3-0 advantage in the third set.

    But the lead was short-lived for the 22-year-old Austrian sensation as Djokovic struck back and ran away with a straight-sets win.

    Simultaneously on Chatrier, Murray was mercilessly dismantling Wawrinka, the man who 12 months ago was delivering the same kind of drubbing to Djokovic in the final.

    Extending his winning streak to 11, on clay, having won the Rome title a little over two weeks ago, Murray saved four of the five break points he faced, hit 25 winners against 22 unforced errors and took 79 per cent of the points on his first serve.

    “I didn’t necessarily expect to be here a few years ago,” said Murray, whose wife Kim and four-month-old daughter Sophia were on-site Friday.

    “So, yeah, got to try and enjoy it. Proud I have managed to reach the final of all four (grand slams).

    “It was a tough atmosphere today, as well. You know, handled that extremely well.

    “To reach the finals of the French the first time, that’s a big moment for me. It’s not an easy thing to do.”

    Wawrinka looked almost helpful during long stretches of the match, as he allowed Murray to dictate play.

    The Swiss world No4 had beaten Murray in their previous three encounters, but even when he took the third set, Wawrinka looked nowhere near someone who would win that match.

    “I think I have never played against him as strong as he was playing today,” said the 31-year-old Wawrinka.

    “Of course I’m disappointed. I could play better. I could have tried to turn the match around, but I couldn’t find the solutions today. I didn’t know how to increase my level of game to fight back.”

    Recommended