Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka will renew their rivalry on Saturday in Paris. Andy Murray and David Ferrer are also aiming for a place in the title match.
(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (4) Stan Wawrinka
Djokovic and Wawrinka will be facing each other for the 23rd time in their careers and for the fourth time this season when they clash in the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Masters on Saturday. The head-to-head series stands at 18-4 in favor of Djokovic, but the rivalry has heated up nicely dating back to a 2013 Australian Open epic won by the Serb 12-10 in the fifth. Wawrinka upset Djokovic the next year Down Under and again in the French Open final this spring. They most recently squared off a few months ago at the Cincinnati Masters, where Djokovic coasted 6-4, 6-1.
Aiming for his third consecutive Paris title, the world No. 1 has defeated Thomaz Bellucci, Gilles Simon, and Tomas Berdych in straight sets. He did not break Berdych a single time but got the job done in two tiebreakers. Wawrinka beat Bernard Tomic and Viktor Troicki before also advancing in a pair of ‘breakers when he outlasted Rafael Nadal 7-6(8), 7-6(7) on Friday night. A quick turnaround following an extended struggle will not help the Swiss in advance of a showdown with by far the world’s best player right now.
Pick: Djokovic in 2 with no tiebreakers
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(8) David Ferrer vs. (2) Andy Murray
The other semifinal also features two players who are heading to the World Tour Finals later this month. Murray secured the No. 2 seed in London when Roger Federer lost to John Isner during third-round action in Paris. As for Murray’s own exploits this week, he is showing impressive determination despite likely having his focus deterred by both the year-end championship and the upcoming Davis Cup final between Great Britain and Belgium. The third-ranked Scot has improved to 67-11 for the season following victories this week over Borna Coric, David Goffin, and Richard Gasquet.
Although he missed several months of action this summer due to an elbow injury, Ferrer will be no worse than the seventh seed in London and could climb as high as No. 5. The eighth-ranked Spaniard’s fall swing includes titles in Kuala Lumpur and Vienna and so far in Paris he has taken out Alexandr Dolgopolov, Grigor Dimitrov, and John Isner. Ferrer survived tough three-setters against both Dimitrov and Isner, whereas Murray clobbered Coric and Goffin before going three with Gasquet. This is not a great matchup for the 33-year-old, who is a decent 6-10 in the head-to-head series but a mere 2-8 on hard courts. Murray can retrieve just as well as his opponent while also showcasing far superior firepower. He can hit through this particular court; Ferrer cannot.
Pick: Murray in 2
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who ya got?
I take Stan in three for a change. Murray in three too.
I think it will be a three setter between Stan & Novak for sure. Who can win it? Not so sure…..
its possible!
Koenig and co can’t wait to put the boot in for Murray
Murray’s play follows yesterday’s pattern, comes out all guns blazing but then let his opponent back into the match. He’s error prone and just can’t sustain his high level throughout.
They’re a promoting Ferrer for all they’re worth and salivating each time he holds BP against Andy.
That’s very unusual. Are you listening to British commies? I haven’t been paying too much attention to the ‘chat’ but Petchey is such an Andy fanatic I can’t imagine him not being all gooey about him against anyone.
To their utter amazement it’s Murray who breaks Ferrer and now serves for the set.
Commies have changed their tune and are back pedalling hard.
Murray takes the set. Now discussing his lucidity and have decided he has the momentum. Still time for Murray to go walk about of course and Ferrer to get the second set.
Nole in two with no breakers and Murray in rheee
Problem with predicting most Murray matches is never knowing which Andy will turn up.
Ferrer gets the first break in 2nd set. Hands it straight back.
Holds his serve. 3-3 and Murray sprinting for the finish line with BP on Ferrer serve.
Murray takes the match 6:4 6:3
This week has shown this is not the Stan that troubles Nole.
Nole in two losing eight or less.
Reblogged this on Tennis Abides.
yep, unless rejuvenated Stan shows up (which is highly unlikely) Novak will reach yet another final in two fairly easy sets…weak field that is…Novak can play at his 50% and win titles…so sad…
I don’t think Nole will lose another match this year.
I thought Fed would in either Paris or WTF but Roger and court speed are slower than expected. WTF will likely be the same.
yeah, I agree… when I said “rejuvenated Stan” showing up I meant that only in that case Novak may end up losing a set but obviously not the match…this Wawa isn’t beating Novak, no way…
I for one would have liked it Rafa reached semis…he would most likely be losing to Novak but that would mainly come from the fact that he did not have enough rest due to a long three-setter played late at night…it would help Rafa’s anxiety issues as he would most likely play freely…I feel so sad that Rafa let yet another match slip away…
Agreed. Any opportunity to play later rounds and against Nole are needed and only a positive step for him win or lose. This was a missed opportunity for sure.
But overall still a positive week for him. Just that progress is slower than we all want it to be.
I see Darren Cahill is now Haleps full time coach.
He would have made an awesome co coach with Toni like Andy and Nole have done.
He has incredible tennis insight and would have been the perfect temperament for Rafa.
@3:49 pm,
.
I repeat what I have written multiple times.
The Paris Masters website: ¤¤ The BNP Paribas Masters is played on GreenSet – resin on wood – which is absolutely identical to the surface at the ATP World Tour Finals in London which will be held from 15 – 22 November 2015.¤¤
The courts in Paris and London have been identical since at least 2013.
I’m still pondering quite how WaWa morphed from having a spectacular backhand but otherwise nothing else very remarkable to become the player he is today.
i.e. that we are even discussing whether or not he has a chance of winning against the current Djokovic.
I agree with nats. It’s too bad that Rafa let an opportunity slip away and for me, it’s the way he lost that match. I don’t care if it meant he would have to face Novak. It would still mean he reached the semis.
The way Stan is playing now, I can’t see him beating Novak.
I took a dim view of him leaving his wife and baby daughter ‘to concentrate on his career. But unlike his colleagues who claim marriage has contributed to a better performance, Stan has had virtually all his success since walking out on his wife
#Head scratch..
Probably depends on the kind of wife you are getting or leaving behind 😀
I am pleased that Murray won. Not surprised at all that it was easy. So if Novak wins, then it will be another meeting of these two. I would enjoy seeing that.