Stan the man in pulsating clash
WAWRINKA SINKS MURRAY IN PARIS BATTLE Four-and-a-half hour marathon leaves both men drained.
Stan Wawrinka became the oldest French Open finalist in 44 years yesterday with an epic 6-7 (6/8), 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (7/3), 6-1 win over world No 1 Andy Murray.
The 2015 champion will face either nine-time winner Rafael Nadal or Dominic Thiem for the title after avenging his loss to Murray at the same stage last year.
US Open champion Wawrinka, 32, triumphed in a pulsating 4hr 34min battle and will target a fourth Slam title tomorrow.
“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.”
Murray admitted that Wawrinka was stronger in the end.
“I tried to keep fighting, but he played well at the end,” said Murray, the 2016 runner-up to Novak Djokovic.
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 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.
Wawrinka raced into a 3-0 lead in the third before Murray retrieved the break in the fifth game.
A further break apiece followed before Murray edged back in front for 6-5 followed by the set-clinching hold.
Solid serving, counter-punching and stunning attacks sent the fourth set to a tiebreak.
Wawrinka took it to level the semifinal, 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 an easy 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. – AFP