Stan Wawrinka reached his second career grand slam final after overcoming home favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-7 (1), 7-6 (3), 6-4 in a tight last-four showdown that saw them waste a combined 28 break points.
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Wawrinka became the first man to reach the Roland Garros final a year after losing in the first round here since 2002 champion Albert Costa followed his opening round defeat to Julien Boutter in 2001 with a title run the following season.
In blistering conditions, with temperatures soaring well into the 30s, the match started in front of surprisingly empty stands, with the French refusing to surrender their meticulous lunch habits for the sake of their home semi-finalist.
Tsonga got three break points on Wawrinka’s serve early on, but the Swiss hung on to hold.
Stan Wawrinka is now en route to his first French Open Final despite wearing this ridiculous get-up. #RG15 pic.twitter.com/WSq1RemM1H
— BuzzFeed Sports (@BuzzFeedSports) June 5, 2015
A big forehand winner from Wawrinka earned him his first break point of the match in game four but Tsonga showed that shot is also his biggest weapon as he fired one inside out to save the chance.
But the former Australian Open champion unleashed a signature backhand down the line to find the winner on his second break point and Wawrinka went up 3-1.
A one-handed backhand passing shot winner from Tsonga in the next game wasn’t enough to stop Wawrinka from holding, but the Frenchman certainly got credit for his moment of craftiness.
Wawrinka saved a break point to hold for 5-2 and served out the set comfortably with a service winner on the 35-minute mark.
Tsonga saved two break points in his opening service game of the second set but got broken on a poor forehand on Wawrinka’s third opportunity.
A certain @carole_bouchard told me on the @TennisPodcast that noone wants to play a 100% motivated Stan Wawrinka. Boy was she right.
— Catherine Whitaker (@Catha1yst) June 5, 2015
The home hero got his first break of the match though in the eighth game, leveling for 4-all, benefitting from two double faults from Wawrinka.
Tsonga had to save five break points in a 10-minute 11th game before holding for 6-5.
The No14 seed raced to a 6-0 lead in the tiebreak as Wawrinka hit error after error and the match was on level terms soon after.
The second set was tight throughout and also went to a tiebreak but this time it was Wawrinka who led 5-3 with a calmly-struck crosscourt backhand winner and he got three set points on a wide passing shot from his opponent.
The Swiss converted on his first chance with a clever point that ended with a wide pass from Tsonga, who was surely ruing his missed opportunities having squandered six break points and faced none in that third set.
A very composed Wawrinka started strong in the fourth, hitting a forehand passing shot winner to create three chances to break. And the No8 seed broke on a Tsonga double fault.
Step aside Roger Federer, Stan Wawrinka is the new Swiss king! http://t.co/igGYw8JTQ5 #FrenchOpen #tennis pic.twitter.com/3uibXdArSm
— BeanBagSports (@BeanBagSports) June 5, 2015
A successful drop shot helped Tsonga get two break points the next game but they were only two more chances the Frenchman saw slip by as Wawrinka held for 2-0. Tsonga was 1/13 in break opportunities at that point.
Tsonga wasted four more break points to trail 1-3 while Wawrinka had to save his own fair share. But that one break for the Swiss proved all he needed to reach a maiden French Open final.
“I’m disappointed. I wish I could’ve won the match. But I did my best. I don’t have a lot of regrets. I should’ve seized some opportunities,” said Tsonga. “The heat didn’t bother me. My opponent made my life difficult.”
Wawrinka awaits the winner of the semi-final clash between Novak Djokovic and Andy Muray.
