If Novak Djokovic beats Stan Wawrinka to win a ninth major and a first in Paris today, you’d struggle to find anyone who would say he didn’t have to do it the hard way.
– French Open: Djokovic downs Murray to reach final
– GALLERY: Kings and queens of Roland Garros
– ALSO: Wawrinka surges into final after defeating Tsonga
The world No 1 had a monster draw, having to take out nine-time champion Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals before defeating world No 3 Andy Murray in a match that was suspended overnight for a storm and looming darkness, all of which means Djokovic will be playing for a third day in a row when he steps to the baseline on Court Philippe Chatrier at 15:00 on Sunday afternoon.
“It wasn’t physically an easy match (against Murray), that’s for sure, but I think I will be fine for the finals. Whatever I have left in me I will put out on the court tomorrow, and hopefully it can be enough,” the 28-year-old said on Saturday.
Djokovic is chasing history, trying to become the eighth man in the record books to complete a career grand slam with Paris being the sole major that has eluded him so far. He would be the first man in 23 years to win the opening two slams of the season if he comes out victorious.
#Djokovic VS #Wawrinka : serving and returning to the #RG15 final #ibmrg #GameChangersIBM pic.twitter.com/tPy31vVWmc
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2015
He is undefeated in his last 18 matches, has a 17-3 win-loss record against his opponent today, Wawrinka, and by the mere sight of any his matches recently one can get the sense that he looks and feels invincible.
The numbers back him to win the title – which would be his sixth of the season – but nerves could come into play as he will be under a lot of pressure as the favourite and as someone who is desperate to achieve a career-long goal.
But still many believe Djokovic will be able to rise to the occasion mentally, including ex-world No1 and three-time French Open champion Guga Kuerten, who has been in the stands for most of the matches over the past few days.
“I think today’s match helped Djokovic a bit to release the pressure,” Kuerten said yesterday after the Serb completed his win over Murray in the semis.
“He came out, and sweat a bit, that will help him not to face the final as tense as it is.
“The toughest part is Stan, he’s a great player, he was able to beat Novak before, he knows how it is to win a grand slam. So it will be fun. Lucky us that we can watch.”
Kuerten is right. Wawrinka has shown some impeccable form this fortnight to place him as a solid contender for a first Roland Garros crown.
Our picks for three amazing points from #Williams–#Safarova & #Djokovic–#Murray for Day 14 Shots of the Day. #RG15 https://t.co/8w8PqC5u9I
— Roland Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2015
The Swiss has beaten Roger Federer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in his last two matches playing some fearless tennis, losing serve just once in the quarters and semis.
Wawrinka has been so steady that he leads the tournament in service games won having held serve in 93 per cent of his matches (he got broken just seven times in 97 service games).
The 30-year-old, seeded No 8 in Paris, suffered a shock loss in the first round here last year. He’s surprised himself by his impressive run these past two weeks.
“This year was a little bit different. I was playing great, really confident. I had long weeks of playing Madrid, Rome, Geneva, coming here late. I quite enjoy it also not to be here too early, not thinking too much about Paris, French Open, five sets. Just come here the Friday, I play on Sunday,” said Wawrinka.
“Then it’s me, my game, when I play my best, I know I can beat all the players.
“I have been really focused on the way I’m playing, on the way I’m dealing mentally with my pressure, with the way I want to go into this tournament. I’m still quite surprised and really happy the way I have been playing the last few matches.”
Wawrinka was a junior champion in Paris in 2003 and he says he remembers every moment of the whole experience including a near defeat in the first round on Court 7.
That win didn’t make him believe he could one day win the men’s title though.
“My dream was to play Roland Garros, not to win it, not to reach the finals,” said Wawrinka. “To me, the players that did that were mutants. The fact that I have reached the finals now here is something exceptional after winning a grand slam in Australia a year ago. It’s something amazing.”
Wawrinka’s last four meetings with Djokovic at grand slams went to five sets and it’s a rivalry that is getting fiercer and fiercer.
“He is a machine, that’s true,” Wawrinka said of Djokovic. “He’s been amazing so far this year winning every big title, playing his best test tennis ever. But, again, he never won the French Open. If I have to play him in the final, for sure we both gonna be nervous. That’s a fact.
“Can be something really interesting. I know that he’s not always happy to play me when I can play my game. When I can play my aggressive game he’s not feeling his best normally. So I will have to focus on myself and try to bring my A game.”
