Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka will be facing each other for the 18th time in their careers and for the second straight year in the French Open semifinals when they meet again on Friday.
Murray is leading the head-to-head series 10-7 after beating Wawrinka twice in 2016, including at Roland Garros via a 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 decision. The top-ranked Scot also cruised 6-4, 6-2 at the World Tour Finals en route to the title there and the year-end No. 1 ranking.
This season has been a considerably different story for Murray, but he remains comfortably atop the rankings thanks in part to Novak Djokovic’s slump. Although the three-time Grand Slam champion is a mediocre 21-7 in 2017, he is picking up the pace this fortnight. Murray booked a spot in the semis for the fifth time in his last six appearances with wins over Andrey Kuznetsov, Martin Klizan, Juan Martin Del Potro, Karen Khachanov, and Kei Nishikori.
“As you get through the matches, you gain in confidence,” the No. 1 seed explained after beating Nishikori. “I didn’t feel like I played great tennis today. It’s a huge step in the right direction for me. Anyone can win matches when they are playing well; it’s winning when you’re not playing your best (that) is more impressive. So I’m happy about that.”
“I think he’s struggling a little bit since the beginning of the year,” Wawrinka said of Murray, “but he’s in the semifinal. So a champion like him, when they find a way to win matches, he’s playing better and better. So I expect him to play his best tennis…. It’s going to be interesting match, for sure. Last year I was playing really well. I was confident. He was playing better than me I remember on that court. In the semifinal, he was really aggressive in his game. He was pushing me all the time, so (it) was tough for me to find any solution last year.
“But again, it’s a different year.”
Wawrinka has what Murray still lacks–a Coupe des Mousquetaires. The third-ranked Swiss triumphed at this tournament in 2015 and made a return trip to the semis last spring before falling to Murray. Wawrinka has not been at his absolute best in 2017, but he is heating up at just the right time. His nine-match winning streak includes a title in Geneva and victories this fortnight over Jozef Kovalik, Alexandr Dolgopolov, Fabio Fognini, Gael Monfils, and Marin Cilic. Like Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem on the other side of the draw, Wawrinka has not dropped a single set.
It is no surprise that Murray got away with rather pedestrian performances against Nishikori and in his first two matches. That will not cut it against Wawrinka, who always plays better in majors than he does at other events and is 17-1 in his last 18 matches at Roland Garros.
Pick: Wawrinka in 4
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Obvious now why the French put Rafa on second match of the day and started first match at 12:45.
Separate tickets so crowd has to clear out before second crowd comes in.
I’d have preferred Murray because boorish French will be firmly behind CB in the final.
That plus I really don’t like CB.
What?? I thought he was your favorite?! 😉
No the crowd is younger this time …I doubt it…it will be equal.
Let us not forget that everyone wants to witness history.if rafa wins 10th it will be historical and people will want to witness it.
Let us remember a stat. .Stan has won every gs final he has played till date but each of those wins were against seated incumbent world no 1. That won’t be the case this time. Neither Rafa or Thiem are world no 1.
Btw atul said 4.5 hour match and it lasted exactly 4.5 hours 🙂
They got them started as quickly as possible. Rafa missed an overhead smash.
That’s a good point, Sanju. If Stan faces Rafa and wants to win this title, he is going to have to play like he did in 2015 final in terms of dictating and bullying. If he doesn’t, Rafa will be all over him… And I’ve personally always doubted that Stan could ever replicate that 2015 final performance ever again, so I will remain skeptical until I see him do it again.
Thiem’s power impressive. Rafa under pressure
Very bad backhand errors from Rafa… he has set up some points and dumped backhands into the net
Thiem’s backhand technique is different. He uses his body so much and puts so much power on it a result. It is the biggest backhand when he cranks it (which he is TOTALLY doing it right now).
Also, I notice his backhadn on the run is kind of unique for a single hander. He slides into his backhands really well and amazingly hits with more open stance which you normally see from single handed backhands
Which is the right topic thread for this match? I am going back and forth.
Rafa has a chance here. 0-40
let’s all switch to the other one
vamos! The way Thiem is playing, this is not sustainable. He needs to get a bit more patient and then unleash his shots. Good going, Rafa
Thiem is going for too much. But I think that’s his game plan. Go for everything!
Not a worthy men GS sf to watch a match played with zero strategy, the first match is of high quality battle
Well, Murray doesn’t have the firepower of Rafa, so against Stan, Murray has to use all his court craft, his guile and defensive skills to do the job. Stan doesn’t have much strategy to offer either, just hits hard to blow his opponent off the court. Both Stan and Thiem are players who hit hard and it’s either hit or miss for them. Rafa had an easier time with Thiem as Rafa had the firepower to fight back, not relying solely on defensive skills, unlike Murray. In fact Rafa hit more winners than Thiem in the match.