It’s a case of parallel storylines and formlines in the first semi-final at the French Open, as Andy Murray looks to make his second final in a row against former champion Stan Wawrinka. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 8:45pm (AEST).
Murray’s form was criticised from every angle before the second grand slam of the year got underway, but unlike Novak Djokovic, who was bundled out on Wednesday, the second seed has been able to turn things around dramatically.
The Scot has only dropped three sets over the first five matches, which not only shows his form is solid, but has limited his court time. With injury worries still hanging over his head, that was always going to determine how far he could go in the tournament.
With clay being so brutal to play on, it will have kept Murray relatively fresh. After taking four sets to get past his first two opponents – Andrey Kuznetsov and Martin Klizan – both of whom are dangerous – he came away with a commanding performance over Juan Martin Del Potro.
The win against Del Potro came after a first set tie-breaker and finished with a third set beagle. Murray hasn’t looked back from that match, breezing past up and comer Karen Khachanov in straight sets and then recovering from a set down to dominate Kei Nishikori.
Wawrinka, like Murray, was struggling in the lead up to the second grand slam of the year. While injuries didn’t play their part, the former champion simply wasn’t playing good tennis.
His usually brilliant groundstroke game wasn’t flowing and it looked like he was already looking ahead to the grass court season and Wimbledon.
Instead, Wawrinka won the final tournament before Roland Garris in Geneva and has carried that form into Paris, yet to drop a set after his first five matches.
The first three rounds were always going to be straight forward against Jozef Kovalik, Alexandr Dolgopolov and Fabio Fognini, with his serve firing at a high percentage.
However, Wawrinka so often gets taken the distance during the first weeks of grand slams, so the fact he is still yet to lose a set shows he is on.
The fourth round saw him breeze past Gael Monfils 7-5, 7-6, 6-2, before he marched right over seventh seed Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in what may have been his best performance of the year.
If he continues that form, he will be incredibly tough to defeat.
The pair have a long history, with 18 previous matches. Murray leads the head-to-head battle 11-7 and has won three of the last four including last year’s French Open semi-final in four sets, which counts for a lot here.
Prediction
Based purely on form I was leaning towards Wawrinka, but this is a flip of the coin job and with Murray winning the semi-final between the pair last year and a five-set grind expected, I’ll tip the Scot to go through again.
Murray in five sets.
Be sure to join The Roar for live coverage of the first men’s semi-final at the French Open from 8:45pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
Griffo
Guest
Not sure, Scott. I thought the winner of this semi final would go on to win thee tournament. Still think so. Go Stan!
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
I couldn't put money on Wawrinka; certainly not after that marathon. Especially not against Rafa. He did do well indeed; but his confidence after that last set would be shot, his Wimbledon will be interesting. I seriously hope he can get right back on the horse or I don't see him keeping No. 1 beyond next year.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Yeah you're right - if Nadal isn't winning though, he can't make the final. Wawrinka can't possibly go with him after a brutal 4 and a half hour on court. Murray should have wrapped it up before the tie-breaker in the fourth. Just wasn't to be - given his form coming in, he did well to get to the SF.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Well that's true; but I thought the same thing about Djokovic in Rio. I'm lost for words to be honest; I kept hoping he'd wrap it up in the fourth set tiebreak. Then I thought he'd bounce back and win in the fifth and... Wow. Yeah. That happened.
Jacqueline Duarte
Guest
I'm so happy that Murray lost. He is so arrogant.
Jacqueline Duarte
Guest
I'm so happy that Murray lost. He's so arrogant
Scott Pryde
Expert
Nadal's a freak. There shouldn't be any stopping him. That last set was tough for Murray.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thanks for joining me this morning on The Roar for our live coverage of the 2017 French Open. Hopefully you enjoyed the call. Straight onto the next one. Rafael Nadal vs Dominic Thiem. Bye for now.
Ben Lewis
Roar Pro
Quite devastated, to be quite frank. I've been a massive fan of Murray since I started following tennis and I've been wanting him to finally win the last 2 Slams that've eluded him for years. It hurt when he got knocked out of the AO in Janaury and it hurts now. I'll be cheering Nadal on from here on out though. 10 clay Slams is quite a feat.
Scott Pryde
Expert
So then, Stan Wawrinka is through to the final. 6-7, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6, 6-1. He will meet either Rafael Nadal or Dominic Thiem and let me tell you, he is going to need every minute of recovery before 3pm on Sunday. That was brutal with a capital B. Just to give you some sort of an idea, both players covered nearly 4.5km. Wawrinka won a total of 179 points, Murray 160.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Thoughts on the match Roarers?
Scott Pryde
Expert
GAME, SET, MATCH STAN WAWRINKA Fault from Murray, then Wawrinka returns a backhand with plenty of depth. Murray tries to shorten the angle, but Wawrinka is all over it, sending a backhand away down the line to reach the final. What a match. What an incredible match. Four sets of absolute brilliant tennis, then one set of the most one-sided tennis you are ever likely to see. Stan the man is through to the French Open final! Andy Murray 7 3 7 6 1 Stan Wawrinka 6 6 5 7 6
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wide serve, good return and Murray then puts a forehand long. After 4 hours and 33 minutes, Wawrinka has match point! This is incredible. Murray 7 3 7 6 1 - 15 Wawrinka 6 6 5 7 5 - 40
Scott Pryde
Expert
Double fault from Murray now. Murray 7 3 7 6 1 - 15 Wawrinka 6 6 5 7 5 - 30
Scott Pryde
Expert
Wawrinka returns serve long now. Murray 7 3 7 6 1 - 15 Wawrinka 6 6 5 7 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Long, long point there but Wawrinka stayed incredibly patient, defended when he needed to and then put a forehand away on a short angle. Murray 7 3 7 6 1 - 0 Wawrinka 6 6 5 7 5 - 15
Scott Pryde
Expert
Murray has one back. Still down a double break Wawrinka comes to the net after a serve down the T and misses the volley, planting it into the net. Not a bad passing shot from Murray. Murray 7 3 7 6 1 - Wawrinka 6 6 5 7 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
Body serve, but a good return with plenty of depth from Murray. Wawrinka then looks to drive a backhand through the court and sends it long. Another chance for Murray. Murray 7 3 7 6 0 - AD Wawrinka 6 6 5 7 5 -
Scott Pryde
Expert
ACE! Out wide. Murray 7 3 7 6 0 - Wawrinka 6 6 5 7 5 - deuce (1)
Scott Pryde
Expert
Murray hanging by a thread. Not even a thread at this point, but Wawrinka comes to the net and Murray brings up a break point with a forehand passing shot. Murray 7 3 7 6 0 - 40 Wawrinka 6 6 5 7 5 - 30