Djokovic in pursuit of immortality

(1) Novak Djokovic v (8) Stan Wawrinka

After a gruelling 5 set victory over Andy Murray that needed 2 days to conclude – Novak Djokovic is only one win away from becoming only the 8-th player in history to have won all 4 Major Titles.

The world number one took his winning streak to 27 matches and picked up his 8-th win in a row vs his rival Murray by triumphing 6-3 6-3 5-7 5-7 6-1. Play resumed yesterday with the score tied 3-3 in the 4-th set after forecast of thunderstorm plus the approaching darkness forced the organizers to postpone the conclusion of the show from Friday to Saturday. And although many thought this could end quickly because Djokovic was serving first, Murray pushed him to a decider. But once again, the world number one powered away in the final stages, breaking Murray 2 times in the decider with the Scot looking spent in the end.

“It wasn’t physically easy match, that’s for sure, but I think I will be fine for the finals,” Djokovic said after beating Murray. “Whatever rest I have in me, whatever I have left in me I will put out on the court tomorrow, and hopefully it can be enough.”

“There is always a little bit of extra motivation for me coming into Roland Garros,” Djokovic said. “It is obviously very encouraging knowing that I have won all of the big events from last October, and playing some of my best tennis in the life, and coming into Roland Garros with that amount of confidence helps. Encourages me to step on the court and compete.”

Stan put a great and clinical display to defeat Jo Wilfired Tsonga in 4 sets in the Semis. That extended the french wait for a local player finalist to 27 years and counting. Wawrinka knew that the crowd will be behind their player from the start:  “When I played Simon on Lenglen, I got booed. It doesn’t really effect me. I don’t have any problem,” Wawrinka said. “I don’t think you can change the results. I don’t think it is what’s going to make me win or lose in the end.”

“A Roland Garros final is a dream for me,” said Wawrinka. “It’s a tournament I appreciate. I feel at home even though the French fans are of course supporting the French. It’s the tournament I watched when I was young, and I’ve always loved playing on clay. The fact that I have reached the finals now here is something exceptional after winning a Grand Slam in Australia a year ago now. And to think that this is yet another final in yet another Grand Slam, it’s something amazing.”

Again the Swiss had problems getting many 1st serves in, 52% this time, but Tsonga couldn’t do much when he had chances and he finished with only 1 break from 17 chances.

“I tried to give it my best, so I don’t have a lot of regrets,” said Tsonga. “I should have seized some opportunities; had some break point opportunities but I didn’t convert them. I can’t find the word, but I didn’t seize the opportunities. So I lost, and that’s logical. That’s it.”

Djokovic leads head to head 20-3 and so far these 2 weeks he has been looking unstoppable. He was pushed a lot by Murray but often he puts it into a different gear when his back is up against the wall. But if Wawrinka’s backhand is firing the way it has been this tournament and looking really solid as well, this could turn into another epic and long match with the RG Junior Champion from 2003 poised to make an impact.