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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Djokovic has moved into 4th gear for this encounter.
Honestly, I am not surprised. This is what Novak does when he gets the semis. Unless Stan can play his best, he’s toast.
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the crowd is so supportive of Wawa…unbelievable…Novak hardly gets applause when he wins a point…
What a player Wawa has turned into! Likely Rafa would not have given Djoko a match that Wawa is giving
I was about to post that these days Novak seems so calm on court and does not throw tantrums or bang rackets. And then he launches into his shoes with the racquet and gets a code violation 😀
It’s easy to stay calm when he is winning.
Djoker gets code violation warning for smashing his racquet. Stan leads with a break in the 2nd set. Djokovic to serve to stay in the set at 2:5.
Well Stan did surprise here. He’s made a match of it! Good for him!
I really like it when someone can take it to Novak. Even playing so well and looking unbeatable, Stan can take a set off him. The commies said that ended a streak of Novak not losing a set.
Great turn around by Stan after Nole’s level dropped off.
Keeping his foot on the pedal.
Ends Nole’s 29 set win streak!
Impressive.
You know that you’ve gotten under Novak’s skin when he has to smash his racket! 🙂
Djoko finally loses a set :). Only the swiss can stop his streaks it seems 🙂
I was getting tired of hearing about the set winning streak.
Still has a 21 match win streak.
Stan’s had his run but all over for him now. Nope about to break.
Smell a bagel being baked
Nole weathers the storm whether they originate from his opponent or within himself and continues to find a way.
Like Rafa used to do consistently.
This is what is missing.
While improving, the rate is slow.
Too bad he couldn’t have added Darren Cahill to his team now that he is willing to coach full-time.
Such a win is even more impressive considering the smooth sailing he has had for two months. Absolutely deserved world no 1
Bagels aren’t as good without gluten. Extra gluten preferably.
Stan could have saved himself the bagel if he hadn’t stolen the match from Rafa yesterday.
Nadal was smart to save himself from a bagel and handed it over to Stan
11-23 hurts.
Mighty mighty impressive from Nole! Another final. Another masters 1000 probably. Remaining so fresh in spite of winning so much.
Sticking with my pick of his next loss being at Montecarlo final against Rafa 🙂
I’m starting to think you maybe right!
@vmk1,
I tend to agree with you…Novak has played so much this year and yet looks fresh…OTOH he does not even need to play at his 100% he still beats them all…
and given Rafa’s current form and the rate of progress we can only expect Rafa to start shining again on clay…