Novak Djokovic is on the brink of history. The World Number One faces Stan Wawrinka in the French Open final targeting a first Roland Garros title to become just the eighth man to secure a career Grand Slam.
Will Stan be the Man? Will Djoker have the last laugh? Live Updates
(All times in IST)
19:49: 2-3 - Superb play from Wawrinka. Holds the game at 15. He needed a big game to forget the floundering of the break point of the last game. Heat taking a tole on Djokovic - remember he played a massive five-setter against Murray over two-days.
19:46: 2-2 - Djokovic holds after saving two break-points. This is a monster effort from the Serb, squeezing out every ounce of his energy and pouring into his shots. Tries to lob Wawrinka and gets it smashed back to find himself on break point. Opens his body up, hits the forehands to keep the ball on Wawrinka's favourite back-hand until the Swiss puts it long.
19:38: 1-2: Wawrinka holds a love game. That didn't happen for a long time. Djokovic seemed a little upset with the surface.
19:36: 1-1: The forehand isn't on Wawrinka's side at all. Way too many mistakes by the Swiss. Djokovic serving well with landing 78% of his first serves. Runs to 30-0 and then a srop shot leaves Wawrinka nowhere before he hits a fore-hand into the crowd.
19:33: Second Set 0-1: Wawrinka holds. "Come on" - shouts Djokovic after fluffing a back-hand. Wawrinka doesn't look too confident either, two weak forehands handed Djokovic the advantage but a booming ACE and a couple of strong shots down the courts helps him survive.
19:24: NOVAK DJOKOVIC WINS FIRST SET 6-4 : Stunning game that was. Wawrinka in no mood to give up against a rampant Djokovic. The Serb gets quite a few things wrong in the game - tried to lob but it went out, played the drop shot, Wawrinka returned and then the Swiss' backhand caught him unaware at the net, then nets an easy backhand to hand Wawrinka the break point. Suddenly, shakes off his slumber, serves deep, saves the break and just toys with the Swiss to get the first set!
19:18: 4-5: Wawrinka comes back and holds. After a frustrating game, the Swiss unleashes a couple of monster cross-courts to send the Serb sliding. A bit of a fightback but Djokovic will serve for the set now.
19:15: 3-5: Djokovic in beast mode now. Wawrinka's returns letting him down. Djokovic serving well and making the Swiss run. Wawrinka's trusted back-hand isn't hurrying the Serb at all. He's picking his spots and making the play happen.
19:09: 3-4: BREAK! Djokovic into his groove now and Wawrinka's returns going awry - twice misses his backhand down the line. Then he double faults to give the game up in a platter. Shoddy show after an impressive start.
19:07: 3-3: Classic Djokovic now, gave no chance to the Swiss in that game. Serves big and Stan had a problem returning them.
19:00: 3-2: Wawrinka saves break point and holds. Djokovic was 0-30 down and then fights back to get to a break-point, looked in control until he floundered the break point. Both players playing to their strength - their backhands. Djokovic's forehand definitely rusty. Wawrinka serving deep, sending Djokovic stretching for the returns.
18:57: 2-2: Djokovic with body serves, right into Wawrinka, not allowing his to unleash his powerful return. Seems to be a plan from the serve. Was a little lucky with the ace though, the umpire called it wrong.
18:53: 2-1: That was easy - Wawrinka unleashes his booming serve to hold the game to love. Impressive start from the Swiss, swooshing his single-handed back-hand at will already!
18:50: 1-1: Djokovic holds on a 15 game - looks a little rusty the Serbian, the forehand not quite coming through but makes the game count with some good serving. The big semi-final against Murray taking it's toll?
18:45: First Set: 1-0: Unbelievable start to the game. The battle of the back-hands have begun - 39 shots in the rally in the very first game. Wawrinka standing way behind the baseline to dictate play and Djokovic didn't look too comfortable at all. The Swiss generated immense power and Djokovic visibly stretched. Wawrinka serving big and Djokovic finally wields in the 39th shot of the rally.
18:40: The time is here - The final of the French Open. Stan's the man to serve!
Fred Perry, Don Budge, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Andre Agassi, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal - World Number One Novak Djokovic is all set to mount a challenge to join that league of extraordinary gentlemen at the Roland Garros - men who have won a career Grand Slam.
Not only that, a win over the eighth seed Stanislas Wawrinka put the 2015 Australian Open winner Djokovic on his way to achieving a calendar Grand Slam - a feat that's only been achieved by Don Budge (1938) and Rod Laver (1962, 1969).
Dismantling the big Serbian right now is the biggest challenge for any tennis player in the circuit. He's won his last 28 matches and is unbeaten for 16 games on clay this season. He's getting better with every match and as Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray found out, is hungry to take his Grand Slam tally past Agassi's eight.
Against the Swiss, he's got a head-to-head record of 17-3.
However, if anyone can jolt the incredible run of the Serbian, it's Wawrinka. Although, he's had a lopsided record against the World's number one, the Swiss is one of the few players who can rattle Djokovic from the baseline. Apart from a good first serve, Wawrinka can generate immense power from incredible angles - something that has made Djokovic uncomfortable in the past.
During their last four encounters at Grand Slams, Wawrinka has pushed Djokovic to the full five sets and although the 28-year-old Serb have come up put it past the line in three of them, two of those victories weren't very convincing.
Wawrinka, bidding for his second Grand Slam, is also staring at his piece of history - become the first former Roland Garros boys' champion (2003) to win the title since Mats Wilander in 1988.
A five setter on the cards? In all probabilities but the Philippe-Chatrier Court in Stade Roland Garros will definitely witness history in the making.
source: NDTV
source: NDTV
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