FRENCH OPEN FINAL: NADAL VS WAWRINKA
SWISS PLAYER BEATS ANDY MURRAY IN SEMIFINAL
Stan Wawrinka became the oldest French Open finalist in 44 years on Friday with an epic 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 win over world number one Andy Murray.
The 2015 champion will face nine-time winner Rafael Nadal for the title after avenging his loss to Murray at the same stage in Paris last year. US Open champion Wawrinka, 32, triumphed in a pulsating four hour 34 minute battle of shotmaking and endurance and will target a fourth Slam title on Sunday.
Nadal beat Dominic Thiem 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 in the second semifinal.
For Murray, his wait to become Britain’s first men’s champion in Paris since Fred Perry in 1935 goes on.
“It’s incredible to be in another Roland Garros final,” said Wawrinka, the oldest finalist since 33-year-old Niki Pilic was runner-up in 1973.
“I was hesitant in trying to finish the first and third sets but I felt like I could retake control.
“Andy always makes you play another ball, he makes you play badly.
“It was a great atmosphere which makes you give it your all.”
ADMISSION
Murray admitted that Wawrinka was the stronger player in the end.
“I tried to keep fighting, but he played well at the end,” said Murray, the 2016 runner-up to Novak Djokovic.
“I was a tiebreak from getting to the final in a tournament which I came into struggling.”
Wawrinka broke for a 5-3 lead in the opener but handed the advantage straight back to the Scot in his next service game.
In a gripping tiebreak, an instinctive, point-blank backhand volley gave the Swiss a set point.
Again he was unable to take advantage and it was Murray who pounced for the opening set after 71 minutes when his opponent netted a backhand return off a second serve.
Murray only notched nine winners in the set but Wawrinka’s 23 unforced errors proved his undoing as he shipped his first set of the tournament.
However, Wawrinka quickly hit back, breaking first again for 4-3 in the second set and again in the ninth game to level the semi-final, running around a second serve to bury a forehand winner.
Wawrinka raced into a 3-0 lead in the third before Murray halted a seven-game losing streak and retrieved the break in the fifth game. A further break apiece followed before Murray, with his trademark defensive skills in overdrive, edged back in front for 6-5 followed by the set-clinching hold. The pair had already been on court for three hours.
Solid serving, counter-punching and stunning attack by both men sent the fourth set to a tiebreak without a single break point given up.
Wawrinka took it to level the semi-final after four hours, another laser forehand speeding past Murray.
The US Open champion was now in the ascendancy, breaking in the first game of the decider and backing it with a comfortable hold. An astonishing triple break took him to 5-0 and although Murray clawed one back, the marathon battle -- the longest of the tournament -- had taken its toll.
Wawrinka booked his place in his fourth Slam final with another stylish backhand down the line winner.
OSTAPENKO STANDS IN HALEP’S WAY TO TOP SPOT
Simona Halep is targeting the world number one ranking in Saturday’s French Open final but fast-rising Latvian upstart Jelena Ostapenko threatens to crash the Romanian’s party as a first-time major champion will be crowned.
Halep marked herself out as a favourite for the title at Roland Garros after winning in Madrid and finishing runner-up in Rome, but a tumble in the Italian Open final left her with ankle ligament damage and cast doubt over whether she would play in Paris.
The 25-year-old has since dismissed concerns over her fitness and finds herself one win away from a memorable maiden Slam title triumph that would also see her supplant Angelique Kerber at the top. “It’s a big challenge, a big chance. I think I have the game. I have the mentality to win, but it’s going to be tough,” said Halep, who lost to Maria Sharapova in three sets in the 2014 French Open final.
‘LEARNING CURVE’
“I learned many things during the years, not just after that final. Also semi-finals in Wimbledon. Then US Open against (Flavia) Pennetta before that match.
“My game is stronger, and it’s different. I think more about the game, and I play smarter, in my opinion, and also physically. I’m much better, stronger. Attitude better. I think I’m different player, and I’m much stronger than 2014.”