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Novak Djokovic vs Andy Murray highlights: Djokovic wins in four sets

5th June, 2016
Start time: 11pm (AEST)
Court: Phillipe Chatrier
TV: Live, Fox Sports 504
Betting: Djokovic $1.30, Murray $3.50
Overall Record: Played 34, Djokovic 23, Murray 11
Last meeting: 15/05/16 - Rome final - Murray defeat Djokovic 6-3, 6-3
Record on clay: Played 5, Djokovic 4, Murray 1

Novak Djokovic last 10 matches: won 9, lost 1
Andy Murray last 10 matches: won 10, lost 0
Will we see Novak Djokovic face Andy Murray at the Australian Open final again? (Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images )
Expert
5th June, 2016
271
2914 Reads

Match result:

Novak Djokovic has won his 12th grand slam and his first in Paris, recording a four-sets victory over Andy Murray in the men’s singles final of the 2016 French Open.

REPORT: DJOKOVIC COMPLETES CAREER GRAND SLAM

Final score
Novak Djokovic 3 6 6 6
Andy Murray 6 1 2 4

Match preview:

For the second time in a grand slam final this year it will be the top two seeds, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, doing battle to determine the winner of the French Open. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 11pm (AEST).

Earlier in the year, at the final of the Australian Open it was Djokovic – again as the first seed – taking a straight sets victory over Murray.

The grand slam on clay though is a different kettle of fish for Djokovic. It is the only one he has never won, and while Murray has traditionally not loved clay he has improved out of sight over the last few years and fought incredibly hard to stay in this tournmaent.

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Of course, Murray has never made the final at Roland Garros, being bundled out in the semi-finals three times.

It was a tough start to the tournament for Murray with his first two matches forced to five sets. He was really struggling for momentum and rhythm and has again been taken to four sets in both the quarter-final and semi-final.

Those matches, against Richard Gasquet and Stan Wawrinka saw him struggle to contain backhands that are among the best in the ATP tour, so watch for Djokovic to try and employ that strategy.

Djokovic has had a slightly easier run and only lost one set throughout the tournament to Roberto Bautista Agut in the fourth round. He has advanced through the quarters and semis against Tomas Berdych and Dominic Thiem in straight sets, limiting his court time which was massively important given he played three matches in three days.

Historically, the pair have met a massive 34 times. Djokovic controls it 23-11 and has won four of the five times on clay – although Murray won the last one of those in straight sets just a few weeks ago in Rome.

Their first meeting at Roland Garros came last year in the semi-finals, with Murray somehow forcing a fifth set before Djokovic took that 6-1.

The match will be a typical one between these two – a hard slog with long rallies and both players waiting for the other to crack with mistakes. It will go back and forth, with every point becoming important for momentum into the next. Recovering from a break will be tough as well, so expect any break point to be fought tooth and nail.

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The serve also becomes important. If the first serve is missed, it almost hands the advantage to the receiver on a silver plate in this match-up.

Prediction
Djokovic has been the runner up three times, and that should finally come to an end here but Murray, as he has done all tournament, will go all the way.

Djokovic in five sets.

Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the French Open final from 11pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.

Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde

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