Djokovic-Murray Halted In The 4th Set, Play To Resume Saturday; Wawrinka Awaits
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Semifinal Friday came and went at the French Open, but our Sunday final is still not set. That’s because the second semi between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray was suspended at 8:30pm Paris time with the Serb up 2-1 in sets and knotted 3-3 in the fourth.
A long, scorching day in Paris began with Stan Wawrinka outlasting Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3, 6-7(1), 7-6(3), 6-4 in 3-hours, 45-minutes under a blazing hot 90F degree sun. Wawrinka, who lost in the first round last year, was in his firs French Open semifinal.
“Well, you know, my dream was to play Roland Garros, not to win it, not to reach the final,” said the 30-year-old Wawrinka.
“The fact that I have reached the final now here is something exceptional after winning a Grand Slam in Australia a year ago now. And to think that this is yet another final in yet another Grand Slam, it’s something amazing.”
Wawrinka broke the Frenchman early on then led in the second before Tsonga stormed back to level match.
Both players were slugging it out from the ground, and both were on edge seeking their first French Open final.
A tough third set proved to be the turning point with Wawrinka eventually wearing down Tsonga. And then an early break in the fourth sealed it.
“Today I started the match really well,” Wawrinka said. “I was set and break up, playing really great tennis, really aggressive, and I started to get nervous, to lose my concentration. And the match completely changed,” he said.
“Even when I was really nervous in the third and fourth sets, I stayed calm and was focused on my game plan. Tennis is an extreme sport in terms of emotions, both positive and negative. You should make the most of these moments and enjoy them fully.”
Wawrinka, who made the semifinals at the Australian, moved on to the finals is Paris for the first time. He now has more Slam finals the last two years than Federer, and he 11-1 this season in Slams.
Tsonga had ripped through the draw beating Tomas Berdych and then Kei Nishikori, but couldn’t get off to the start he needed and his 1/17 mark on break points did him in.
“He got off to a good start,” said Tsonga. “He played well from the very beginning of the match. He prevented me from being aggressive. I couldn’t control the balls very well… He was more clinical, I would say.”
The French will have to wait a little longer for another champion since Yannick Noah’s title in 1983.
For most the evening in Paris it looked like Wawrinka would face Djokovic. In the hot conditions, the Serb jumped out on Murray early in the first two sets and appeared well in control of the match.
In the third, Djokovic closed in on the finish line but blew a couple of early breakpoints. Murray hung around to 5-5 when he took advantage of his first break chances of the day. Murray broke, then served out the set.
After a lengthy toilet/trainer/clothing change for Djokovic, play resumed in the fourth with Novak looking stronger, but he failed to convert a 0-40 on Murray’s next service. With a storm cell rapidly approaching and light fading, the two continued to engage in their hallmark grueling rallies. After they traded breaks, supervisor Andreas Egli came on court to alert the players that the match would be stopped due to an incoming storm.
Fans jeered as the players left. And soon after the rains came.
Play will resume Saturday at Roland Garros at 1pm, 7am ET in the U.S. on NBC. The women’s final between Serena Williams and Lucie Safarova will go on as scheduled at 3pm.
SATURDAY FRENCH OPEN SCHEDULE
Philippe-Chatrier Court 1:00 PM Start
Novak Djokovic (SRB)[1] vs. Andy Murray (GBR)[3] To Finish 6-3 6-3 5-7 3-3
3pm
Serena Williams (USA)[1] vs. Lucie Safarova (CZE)[13]
Bob Bryan (USA)[1] vs. Ivan Dodig (CRO)[3]
Mike Bryan (USA)[1] Marcelo Melo (BRA)[3]
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