Novak Djokovic beat battling Andy Murray 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 5-7, 6-1 Saturday to reach his third French Open final and stand on the cusp of a career Grand Slam
Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over Great Britain's Andy Murray during their men's semi-final match of the Roland Garros 2015 French Tennis Open in Paris on June 6, 2015. AFP
Novak Djokovic beat battling Andy Murray 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 5-7, 6-1 Saturday to reach his third French Open final and stand on the cusp of a career Grand Slam.
The world number one, who knocked out nine-time champion Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals, goes on to face eighth-seeded Swiss Stan Wawrinka in Sunday's title match.
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Serbia's Novak Djokovic celebrates his victory over Great Britain's Andy Murray during their men's semi-final match of the Roland Garros 2015 French Tennis Open in Paris on June 6, 2015. Pic/AFP
After their thrilling semi-final was halted due to a storm at 3-3 in the fourth set on Friday, Murray levelled the contest at two sets apiece. But the Serb rallied in the decider to wrap up his eighth successive win over his fellow 28-year-old who he had also beaten in January's Australian Open final.
Victory on Sunday would make Djokovic only the eighth man to win all four majors and put him halfway to a rare calendar Grand Slam, a feat achieved by just two men, most recently by Australian great Rod Laver back in 1969. "The first game of the final set was crucial and then I started to play better," said Djokovic. "It was a very difficult match. I started well, I was solid and aggressive but Andy came back with confidence."
Sunday will be eight-time major winner Djokovic's 16th Grand Slam final. The Serb also took his 2015 record to 41 wins against just two defeats, stretching his current streak to 28.
For Murray, it was a third semi-final loss at Roland Garros meaning Britain's wait for a first men's finalist since Bunny Austin in 1937 goes on.
Djokovic had swept through the first two sets on Friday without facing a break point. But Murray conjured up a momentum-switching performance in the third set to haul himself back into the match. That sent Djokovic off court for a lengthy medical timeout and just six more games were possible before the gloom and an approaching storm sent the players back to their hotels for the night after 3 hours and eight minutes on court.
Three love games followed Saturday before a 33-shot rally helped Murray to a break of a tense-looking Djokovic for a 6-5 lead and a chance to level the semi-final. The third seed served it out to set up their third five-set decider and first since the US Open final in 2012 where Murray achieved his first Grand Slam title. But Djokovic suddenly shook off the shackles for a break and a 2-0 lead.
That soon became 5-1 on a double break and the Serb wrapped it up with his eighth ace after more than four hours of action.
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