Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka will battle for the Roland Garros title on Sunday. Djokovic is going for the career Grand Slam, while Wawrinka aims for his second major trophy.
Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka will be squaring off for the 21st time in their careers when they collide in the French Open final on Sunday afternoon.
Djokovic is dominating the head-to-head series 17-3, but that is not to say the matchup has been without drama. In fact, their last four Grand Slam meetings (and all of their completed slam showdowns that did not end in retirement) have resulted in five-setters. Djokovic won the most epic of all 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7(5), 12-10 in the 2013 Australian Open semifinals and he prevailed 2-6, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 later that season in the U.S. Open semis. Wawrinka got some revenge with a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 9-7 upset at the 2014 Aussie Open before Djokovic returned the favor 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-4, 4-6, 6-0 earlier this year Down Under.
The world No. 1 is 5-1 lifetime against Wawrinka on clay and the only blemish came via first-set retirement at the 2006 Umag event. They have faced each other eight times since their last clash on the slow stuff, which came three years ago in Madrid (Djokovic got the job done 7-6(5), 6-4).
Although Wawrinka is a major champion who has always accounted himself well on red dirt, his appearance in the Roland Garros title match could not have been expected. The ninth-ranked Swiss had lost seven of his previous 15 matches leading up to this fortnight. Suddenly in swashbuckling form, Wawrinka has advanced with wins over Marsel Ilhan, Dusan Lajovic, Steve Johnson, Gilles Simon, Roger Federer, and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga–almost all of them in convincing fashion.
Whereas Wawrinka (and Tsonga, among others) benefited from a weak bottom half of the bracket, Djokovic put in the hard yards during a daunting trek through the top half. After disposing of Jarkko Nieminen, Gilles Muller, Thanasi Kokkinakis, and Richard Gasquet, the top-ranked Serb made quick 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 work of nine-time champion Rafael Nadal. Andy Murray then pushed Djokovic to five sets in a semifinal spread out over two days, but the favorite survived 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 5-7, 6-1. He is now 41-2 for the season and has won 28 matches in a row.
As strong as Wawrinka is on clay, the underdog will struggle to hit through Djokovic’s borderline impenetrable defense on a relatively slow court. Djokovic did not have to spend too much energy in his continuation against Murray on Saturday–especially not physically–and the brief scare may actually serve as a wake-up call.
With Djokovic one step away from the career Grand Slam, there will be no stopping him now.
Pick: Djokovic in 4
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if you can’t be with the swiss you love, love the little swiss you’re with
that goes for some of the RG crowd and for our resident fake
Nailed it.
Remember, when stan won the first set of their Oz open 4th rnd in 2013, people thought he won’t be able to sustain his level for 5 sets but he did! In 2014 AO, he went a step further nd beat novak against all odds!
This match, the dynamics , are very similar. Stan will make it extremely tough for novak. Novak will have to step up the aggression a little as stan has adapted to the serbian’s plan A
So at least we have a match with Stan taking the second set!
I never thought that I would be rooting for Stan. This may be the only occasion where it would be warranted.
I can’t believe I am actually watching this final without Rafa.
Nole played those last break points to perfection.
Extremely well played by Djokovic to save the second brk pnt!
Woww great hitting, another bp! And another bp saved! Novak’s first serve was misfiring so stan had a golden chance.
How big was this hold?
Snap VR!
I suspect Wilander gave a present of a ‘get out of jail’ card for this match 🙂
STan is just 1 in 8/9? on break points, Djoker 1 in 4.
H e should be breaking Djoker now as he is visibly rattled….
Stan’s got to take the 3rd set to stand any chance of winning.
Stan’s title to lose. Power kills all. Magnus has turned him into Sodetling 2.0
That’s why they’ve won so many slams together.
Fall better fedfan.
NBC ran a viewer poll asking if fed or Rafa would ever win another slam.
No
Yeah right! You wish!
of course they won’t…the GOATS should be put out to grass….!!!
Why is Stan hitting so few winners off his backhand today?????
Nole exceeded the 20 second Rafa rule on three points in hid last game.
Djoko’s racquet after the 2nd set:
https://twitter.com/philousports/status/607561458612760576
#Vamos Stan
Stan needs to keep up his level of play. His failure to convert break points is a huge problem. But I do think that he must win this set if he is going to win the match.
27 seconds to serve at 0-30′
YES!!! more great DTL shots from Stan – he is definitely outplaying Djoker now……
I never thought I’d say this but – come on Stan!
I had the thought that this is the time when the pressure would get to Novak. Stan doesn’t have any pressure. He’s not playing for the career slam. He wasn’t expected to be here. So he should be able to play more freely.
INCREDIBLE HITTING FROM STAN WAWRINKA!
His backhand down the line is well and truly back! Let’s see if novak can do anything about the stanimal onslaught!
A lot of nerves from both guys out there right now let’s be honest.
If Stan can’t consolidate here then gsm Nole