Murray finds his feet on clay
If looks could kill, Andy Murray has perfected an expression as potentially deadly as his doublefisted backhand.
The damning countenance was triggered by the suggestion his first victory over David Ferrer on clay, which extended his unbeaten run on the surface this year to 15 matches, was not quite enough to give him a chance against Novak Djokovic in the French Open semifinal.
Murray was as proud of his passage in four sets to a third semifinal at Roland Garros as of any match he has played on clay. So when asked if there was anything more he could do to give himself as opportunity of ending a sevenmatch losing run against Djokovic, whom he last beat in the 2013 Wimbledon final, he stared back icily and said: ‘‘I think I have done that in the last four or five weeks.
‘‘Going into the match having not lost on clay this year, and having some big wins on the surface, is important for me. I will just keep doing what I have been doing.’’
The 7-6 6-2 5-7 6-1 win over Ferrer was without doubt Murray’s finest performance at this year’s championships. The quality of his play, particularly the way he responded to letting a match point slip and immediately having his serve broken in the third set, was so laudable that it probably eclipsed his Madrid Open final win over Rafael Nadal four weeks ago. Ferrer made Murray look distinctly second rate when they met in the 2012 French Open quarterfinals, allowing him just one set in a tie-break. Their fortunes were most definitely transposed yester- For women’s semifinals played overnight see stuff.co.nz day. ‘‘I feel like I understand how to play on this surface better than I did in the past,’’ said Murray. ‘‘Winning against David here, a player I would certainly have lost against on the same court a couple of years ago, was a completely different match this time around.’’
A year ago he progressed as far at the French Open, only to have his game completely dismantled by Nadal. This time Murray is infinitely more confident in both his body and his game.
However, in the past Murray has almost been satisfied by getting to the last four of a tournament that he never previously believed he could win. All that has changed in this surprising run in 2015 which faces its sternest test against Djokovic on Saturday.
Thoroughly out-playing the best ever on red clay, Djokovic ended Nadal’s 39-match French Open winning streak by beating the nine-time champion in a surprisingly lopsided quarterfinal 7-5 6-3 6-1. ‘‘A match,’’ Djokovic said, ‘‘that I will remember for a long time.’’
It’s only Nadal’s second defeat in 72 career matches at Roland Garros. The other came in the fourth round in Paris in 2009 against Robin Soderling. ‘‘I lost in 2009, and [it] was not the end,’’ Nadal said. ‘‘I lost in 2015, and [it] is not the end. He was better than me – that’s it.’’
As significant this victory was, Djokovic has more work to do in pursuit of a first French Open title to complete a career grand slam. The other semifinal pits Stan Wawrinka against hometown hero Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.