Stan Wawrinka has already defended a decent chunk of his 2015 points, but he is also just two wins away from defending the Roland Garros title. A substantial roadblock on Friday, however, comes in the form of Andy Murray.
Despite buckets of rain in Paris earlier this week, the bottom half of the French Open is back on schedule. Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka will have a day off before semifinal action will begin on Friday, when they meet for the 16th time in their careers.
Murray owns a slight 8-7 lead in the head-to-head series, but he is 0-3 in their last three matches and has not defeated the Swiss since a three-set victory at the 2012 Japan Open. Wawrinka beat the Scot twice in 2013 before most recently getting the job done 7-6(4), 6-4 to clinch a spot in the semis of the World Tour Finals last fall.
Of course, Murray’s struggles in London can be eagerly explained. He was eager to get off the indoor hard courts and head to Belgium to prepare on clay for the Davis Cup final, which visiting Great Britain ultimately won–thanks mostly to Murray. Once a novice on the red stuff, has transformed himself on this surface over the past few years. The world No. 2 is through to a third consecutive semifinal at Roland Garros following wins this fortnight over Radek Stepanek, Mathias Bourgue, Ivo Karlovic, John Isner, and Richard Gasquet. Murray shockingly required five sets to get past both Stepanek and Bourgue, but he surrendered just a single set in his next three efforts combined.
Wawrinka also got off to a rough start, managing to outlast Lukas Rosol in a five-set opener. The recent Geneva champion (he beat Rosol in that final before facing the Czech again two days later) followed that up with defeats of Taro Daniel, Jeremy Chardy, Viktor Troicki, and Albert Ramos-Vinolas. He needs to more wins to defend the title at Roland Garros.
“I think it gives me more confidence, for sure, and less pressure because I (have already) won it,” Wawrinka said of last year’s triumph. “So I have a different mentality this year. I’m feeling way better.”
But the No. 3 seed does not appear to be playing better. Although he has certainly picked up the pace since stumbling to a victory over Rosol, his season remains underwhelming. Even on his best surface of clay, Wawrinka lost early in Madrid and Rome after getting clobbered by Rafael Nadal in the Monte-Carlo quarters. His run to the Geneva title was far from dominant even against mostly lackluster opposition. Murray, on the other hand, pushed Novak Djokovic to three sets in Madrid and upset the world No. 1 in the Rome final.
With new life in the wake of his scares against Stepanek and Bourgue, an ever-improving Murray looks poised to reach a well-deserved French Open final for the first time in his career.
Pick: Murray in 4
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Stan just isn’t consistent enough. This sucks. I don’t know how he won last year. I do but holy cow he cannot consistently hit good shots today. Murray about to win. Damnit.
That has been the problem with Stan lately. He can’t produce his best tennis on a consistent basis and that will really show up in a slam match.
Congrats to Rafa and The Big Four reunited on Monday.
Bravo Andy!
Congrats to me! Andy in 4 it is!
Well done Andy!
Congratulations to me! I had Andy winning in 4 sets!
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Benny,
I just wanted to say commiserations to you in stan’s loss. I know you are a big fan and it’s never easy to see your guy lose in a big match.
Thanks. At least we will see a first time FO winner.
Good point! 🙂
Stuart Fraser @stu_fraser 44s45 seconds ago
Ten days ago, Andy Murray was two points away from going out in 1st round to 37yo Radek Stepanek. Now he is in the final here for first time
Ben Rothenberg @BenRothenberg 1m1 minute ago Paris, France
Novak Djokovic & Andy Murray will have now met in the finals of all four Grand Slam events. Murray has won the ones outside Australia. #RG16
Bravo Andy! His first FO final – impressive performance.
Yeah, me too — comissers to a great tennis fan, Benny G.
https://tenngrand.com/2016/06/02/french-open-sf-expert-picks-murray-vs-wawrinka/#comment-119998
https://tenngrand.com/2016/06/02/french-open-sf-expert-picks-murray-vs-wawrinka/#comment-119999
Rafa will be ranked #4 when the rankings come out on Monday with Stan not making the final.
With a win on Sunday, Murray can draw within 7000 points of Nole.
#Excited
Go Andy take your first French open on Sunday
I don’t know what to expect on Sunday
Am I the only one here who thinks Sunday is 50 50
I mean it isn’t 50-50. But I doubt you’re the only one who thinks Murray will upset him.
I feel he has fair chance actually
he does for sure..all the pressure is on nole and he lost in rome…
what difference will andy having an extra day’s rest because of the schedule make??
is it a big factor?