There will be a first-time French Open champion and the favorite will be the winner of Friday’s semifinal showdown between Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. They also faced each other for the Australian Open title earlier this year.
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will be squaring off for the 27th time in their careers and for the fourth time already this season when they do battle in the semifinals of the French Open on Friday.
The series once stood at a basically even 8-7 in Djokovic’s favor, but he has won seven in a row and 10 of their last 11 encounters to storm ahead of Murray 18-8 in what is becoming a lopsided head-to-head matchup. Murray has not defeated the Serb since the 2013 Wimbledon final. Djokovic prevailed earlier this year 7-6(5), 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-0 in the Australian Open title match, 6-2, 6-3 in Indian Wells, and 7-6(3), 4-6, 6-0 in Miami.
They have faced each other only twice on clay. Djokovic cruised 6-0, 6-4 at the 2008 Monte-Carlo Masters and survived a 6-1, 3-6, 7-6(2) thriller at the 2011 Rome event.
The red stuff has always been Murray’s worst surface, but don’t tell him that right now. Roland Garros’ No. 3 seed is a perfect 15-0 on clay in 2015 with titles in Munich and Madrid. So far this fortnight he has taken out Facundo Arguello, Joao Sousa, Nick Kyrgios, Jeremy Chardy, and David Ferrer. A red-hot Murray, who is 36-5 overall for the season), also reached this stage at Roland Garros in 2011 and 2014 (lost on both occasions to Rafael Nadal).
Nadal is now out of the way thanks to Djokovic, who trounced the nine-time champion 7-5, 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday. The world No. 1 preceded that huge victory with straight-set beatdowns of Jarkko Nieminen, Gilles Muller, Thanasi Kokkinakis, and Richard Gasquet. Djokovic, who has not even been pushed to a tiebreaker during this tournament, is 40-2 for his 2015 campaign and has won 27 matches in succession.
Not unlike in his recent dominance of Nadal, Djokovic is able to dictate play in this matchup and keep his opponent in a defensive position. Murray should be able to put up more of a fight than did the Spaniard because his return of serve is superior and he generally gets more depth on his shots–especially given the way he is performing right now. Still, Djokovic is looking unbeatable these days and he should beat Murray in a fashion similar to their previous meetings: early drama followed by Djokovic running away with a commanding win.
Pick: Djokovic in 4
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Murray can actually take over from Fed as No 2 based on results. at Wimby
Just a 2200 point differential which will become 2400. Fed is defending 1200 at Wimby and Murray 360.
I have sensed that Murray could take over the #2 ranking from Fed. He’s playing well and has now made the AO final and the RG semifinal.
Fed isn’t getting it done despite the fact that he’s playing good tennis. I think Murray has a good chance at Wimby.
I just came on here kind of late to find out the result. I am happy that Murray forced a fifth set. We will never know how it would have gone had there not be a suspension of play for rain. I thought that Murray hit his stride and was giving Novak a run for it.
Murray can take positives out of this match. Finally he really pushed Novak. Next time hopefully he will win!
augusta,
You are a broken record. You also do not seem to understand someone making a comment meant to be kind of humorous. That comment was not meant to be taken literally!
Don’t you get it? Or do you not get nuance?
What is this obsession with American tourists?
nativenewyorker7 says:
June 6, 2015 at 3:52 pm.
—You also do not seem to understand someone making a comment meant to be kind of humorous.
What is this obsession with American tourists?—
======================================
I am wondering why you think that I take hawkeye63 seriously! I don’t.
hawkeye63 is obsessed with Am.tourists and HE keeps writing about them.
Some-bot-y is obsessed with Me despite their made up stories to the contrary. Many made up stories from this not including American tourists being the source of booing the scoreboard when the boorish French crowd discovered Rafa beat Isner.
What a sad bot. I cannot be held responsible for the behavior of My extremist fanatics just would like to apologize for them. I am embarrassed for them.
June 6, 2015 at 4:21 pm
—booing the scoreboard when the boorish French crowd discovered Rafa beat Isner—-
============================
It’s impossible to take seriously the story (hawkeye63 is desperately spreading) that somebodies booed Rafa somewhere FAR away (on Court SL) from the place where Rafa&Isner played (on Court PC)! 😆
SPECTATORS of the match on Court PC didn’t boo – that’s what matters!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CG1SkOgW8AAzUpM.png
June 6, 2015 at 4:21 pm
—Some-bot-y is obsessed with Me —
====================================
It’s impossible to take seriously hawkeye63’s imagination that somebody here is obsessed with HIM! 😆
and yet you can’t stop replying.
Some-bot-y’s actions betray their own made up stories.
Methinks some bot protests too much.
Hilarious!
“Right now I’m upset but I would say I’m probably playing (my) best tennis” Andy on his form & how he feels #RG15
@Sanju,
I think the organisers might be tempted to put a FEDAL R16.
Might be there last chance to showcase the 2 fading greats against each other!
Doubt that will happen..if it happens too bad..Not before a QF atleast..But first Rafa has to reach and cross first week..difficult no going by past 3 years experiences
sanju, you seem to be enjoying Rafa’s slump. Like clockwork, you never fail to show up at times like this.
But I am speaking the truth. Let him prove it that he can reach the QF at Wimby, no? He hasn’t in past 3 years. I would be happy if he wins, but by me saying it, will he?
And if this slump will make Rafa rise like a phoenix and grab few more majors..I welcome the slump.
Hahaha! careful, @abhirf, you sound like a random draw sceptic!
Just my random observation…………
#TheTruthIsOutThere
Anyone who still believes that draws are random either don’t understand what random means or are laughably naive.
@ritb,
was trying to have some fun!
I still believe, unseeded players can be fixed. The same cannot be said about seeded ones.
Why not?
@hawkeye,
the defending champion draws the seeded chips.
Abhirf, please see my post below. The players can’t see what they have picked before the chip is handed over.
#ByDesign
Just look at any draw ceremony on YouTube. The chips are all closed before they are placed in the cup. A player draws each closed chip and hand it to an “official”(read illusionist). The official carefully “opens” (read manipulates) each chip before it is revealed.
It is so obvious.
When Isner and Mahut were drawn to meet at Wimbledon in 2011 after the marathon in 2010 it finally convinced me that the draw is not above board. They evidently wanted another freak show.
One of many obvious examples.
I was never sure how it was possible with players making the draw until I watched them on YouTube.
Looks like Rafa is set to face rosol, Tomic and then either lamonf or Kohls in Stuttgart.
No-one in cilics half.
I thought you wer doing th jokings @hawkeye63 until I took a peek at the Stuttgart draw. Mai oui…………
All random coincidence ritb.
The federazzi aren’t leaving anything to chance. Would not be prudent business practise to let Rafa get any rhythm in his game prior to Wimbledon.
I have faith in Rafa @hawkeye63, he shall overcome all these evil machinations, just you wait………
@DjokerNole, on #RG15 final: “Whatever I have left in me, I will put out on court tmw, & hopefully it can be enough”
That statement from Nole gives mixed emotions..Whatever I have left in me? Seriously u have lot left..u have barely been challenged all year.
RT @KelseyOAnderson: “Anyone who claims WTA isn’t entertaining needs to tune in to this final!! #ThisIsTennis #GirlPower #youcantsitwithus”
RT @Dimonator : “@KelseyOAnderson did Murray hack your account?”
Kelsey Anderson – 1
Ricky Dimon – 0
#GirlPower
Great Rafa lefty forehand from Serena.
Serena gets a code violation for cursing and Murray doesn’t???
Shhh….. Sexism at work.
I have an idea: Rafa is naturally right-handed, no? Why not use both hands during a match? Like, he could hit a lefty running FHDTL on the left side and if it comes back cross court, he could run to the right changing his racquet from left to right and hit a running righty FHDTL.
That should fix them, problems solved. Uncle Toni, I will e-mail you my bank account details for my co-coaching fees. 😉
Rafa’s problem lately has been his lefty FH, no?
How’s that a solution??
It isn’t!
That is why my solution is très magnifique, no? Enter the righty FH to assist the over-worked lefty FH………….
T.A.K.E A B.O.W SERENA WILLIAMS!
Tepid applause from the boorish RG crowd stretching their legs for Serena winning her 20th slam.
With all those American tourists, you’d think she’d get more support there.
hawkeye,
Love it! Yes, why aren’t the American tourists who apparently go to RG to watch tennis, applauding and giving Serena more support!
I don’t get it! 🙂
The way WTA tour is going, Serena could easily end up with at least 25 slams!
Hawkeye
I think Murray is a commentator favorite.
LOL! Well at least if American tourists must be brought into this discussion then we can have a good laugh about it!
Who knew there were all these American tourists in the stands at RG every year! 🙂
Congratulations to Serena for #20!
Now the network is going to play Novak/Murray, so I will get to see how it all played out.
I wish that there was some suspense about who wins the final, but I can’t see Novak losing it being this close.
Lucie Safarova is lovely. Serena a deserved Champ, hope Lucie gets a Slam before Berdych…………….
Very happy for Serena on her 20th and keeping her calendar slam alive.
Looking at Serena’s career gives me hope for Rafa. Serena has not had a smooth ride to 20 Slams, she has faltered, been incredibly superb, has been beaten by nobody’s etc, etc but she has always found a way………….
Rafa will find a way………….
ritb, that’s crossed my mind too. They’ve both also been plagued with illness and injury
But she does not have the level of competition the way it is on the mens tour.
She won her first slam in 1999 and its 2015..16 years later she is still winning slams.
Rafa’s problem is in his head. He needs to calm down, grow up and marry the gf.
Nadal was averaging over 40 seconds between points (at times clocking at 45-47). That’s TWICE the time allotted. They’re bound to call a violation. If there was such an insistence on making life tough for Nadal, they would have, for instance watered the courts when Djokovic asked them to be watered (which actually they’re supposed to between sets or else the clay gets really slippery). But, tough to let go of the victim complex once you get it, so whatever.
Where do you get your information? I distinctly recall the chair umpire telling Novak that the courts are watered in between sets. That is the rule and the way it is always done! So please don’t come here to instigate and start trouble my making things up out of thin air.
Have you clocked Novak when he serves recently? Please don’t tell me that he stays within the allotted 20 seconds! LOL!
The tv commentators have been checking Rafa’s time and never once have I heard them say that he takes that long! That’s a bunch of baloney! Stop exaggerating! Also, did you happen to hear Jim Courier trashing the rule being applied to Rafa when he has a break point or any crucial moment of the match? Maybe you should have listened to him go off about how they are selectively enforcing the rule. If Rafa is routinely exceeding the time limit, then they can give him a warning at any time. But they are waiting until he is at risk of being broken.
You seem to have a victim complex whining about Rafa going over the time limit. What about Novak cursing vulgarities in Serbian at the crowd or smashing his racket? That’s not delaying the game? That’s okay with you? LOL!
Where do I get my information? Nadal was clocked ON TELEVISION during his match versus Sock. There are articles about it too but I don’t expect you to read them because it doesn’t fit the “martyr syndrome” does it? The fact is, Nadal deliberately slows down the game and to a significant extent at that. And he’s going to be called out on it, period. As he should rightly be. If he cannot respect the rules and thinks he’s entitled to break them, he should be made to pay. With a violation, for how notorious he is and given that he seems to have popularised it not only on his serves but also on returns at times. Also, I pointed out why he was given a warning/violation. Why on earth would I have a “victim complex” about it? I’m not complaining about it. Hell, I love it! I don’t complain even when he’s not punished. BUT when he is, it’s good to see because it means the umpires finally have the balls to make him pay.
As for Djokovic smashing his racket, I don’t see him do it at every opportune moment. And I have absolutely no clue how that violates the time rule. Talk about building a strawman. The fact is, Novak has done much more to contain the time he takes between points than Nadal has, and I respect that. That said, if he abuses the rules in places he shouldn’t be, he ought to be called out too and I would be equally happy to see that because that would mean that the umpires are finally doing their job. But to throw a fit because an umpire is doing the right thing -THAT is a victim complex of the top order. :p But do carry on. It entertains.
Also, the courts were not watered in that match. I’m reasonably certain I saw even Nadal slip once and that rarely happens given that he moves better than literally anyone else on that court. Djokovic might have been self-serving when he asked for it but the end was going to benefit both. That day, had something happened to Nadal, had he fallen down for instance, I doubt I’d be hearing any complaints over Novak asking the umpire for the courts to be watered after Set 1. In the end, nobody wants to see top drawer players suffer from injuries or be hindered by lack of maintenance on courts. I distinctly recall this happening during Fed-Wawrinka match too. At one point Federer asked Stan to watch out for a blind spot on the Court during change of ends because the entire top coat had been blown over.
I think that Murray is going to take some positives out of this match. At least he pushed Novak to five sets. But he wasn’t able to make that fifth set competitive. Still he is looking more like the Murray who has been able to beat Novak at the USO and Wimby. He’s been getting better and better.
I hope this loss makes him even more determined at Wimby!
As for Serena, I have drawn solace and also inspiration from her struggles and how she has come back strong. I like to think that this is how it will be for Rafa. 🙂