IT’S ALL OVER! NOVAK DJOKOVIC HAS WON THE FRENCH OPEN 3-6, 6-1, 6-2, 6-4
The ‘curse’ is finally broken. The Serb, in his fourth French Open final, has finally won the title. After two losses to Nadal and one to Stan Wawrinka, Djokovic has finally won all four slams – and he holds all four titles together for a Career Slam!
Not only has Novak Djokovic now won 12 Grand Slams, he also has four majors in a row. Absolute dominance from the Serb.
He’s now become only the eighth player to win all four Slams Rod Laver, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Don Budge, Roy Emerson, Bjorn Borg and Fred Perry are the others.
TWO championship points for Novak Djokovic and he’s missed out! It’s now at deuce – can Murray force something?
4th set, Game 9 – Murray’s hitting it around and is now at his second game point! Is there still some fight left in this match? He nets that, though, and his serve has obviously lost the power it had in the initial part of this match.
He’s managed to hold to trail 4-5 and again, Djokovic is serving for the championship. Now it’s Djokovic’s turn to falter – are we going to see a fifth set?
4th set, Game 8 – This match has been characterized by some brilliant rallies and this is no different. Murray’s ending them well, though. And he ends this one with a brilliant forehand winner that flummoxes Djokovic. 5-3 to Novak Djokovic in the fourth, however, and Murray on the back foot is still serving to stay in the match.
4th set, Game 7 – TRIPLE BREAK POINT. This’ll be finished in this set. Murray’s pulling out all the stops with forehand, backhand, 180 degree turns and the kitchen sink all thrown at the net. It’s not working, and Djokovic at 5-2 will serve for the championship.
4th set, Game 3: It’s all over, it seems. Murray’s looking like a defeated man now.
4th set, Game 2: Fabulous returns from Novak Djokovic. He’s won more 25% more rallies than Murray and at 2-1 in this set and up a break he’s looking to end this in this set.
4th set, Game 1: Double break point – and Murray’s lost it! He’s been broken – in spirit and set.
THIRD SET NOVAK DJOKOVIC! 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 TO THE WORLD NO. 1
3rd set, Game 7: Murray holds to go 5-2 but Djokovic is now serving for the set. TRIPLE SET POINT for the 5-2 leader.
3rd set, Game 6: That game was longer than usual, but now Murray’s on the back foot and serving to stay in the set. He’s doing a good job of it though, and he’s now at game point.
3rd set, Game 5: Djokovic is running away with this after faltering. Now it’s break point Murray and Djokovic leads 4-1.
3rd set, Game 2: Murray holds but just barely. 1-1 and the ball looks firmly in Djokovic’s court now.
3rd set, Game 1: That’s a phenomenal point from Novak Djokovic. He’s back in this – and possibly looking on track for the title. There’s a fire in his game that seemed to be flagging earlier, somehow.
SECOND SET NOVAK DJOKOVIC, 6-1!
2nd Set, Game 7: Breadstick! And that’s the second set to Novak Djokovic, 6-1.
2nd Set, Game 6: Djokovic is running away with this. He’s at triple break point – and breaks! 5-1 Novak Djokovic.
2nd Set, Game 5: Andy Murray manages to hold but Djokovic has upped his level, and it’s visible. He’s now at game point... and takes it! He’s up 4-1 in the second set.
2nd set: Can this set be called the Return of the King? There’s no Gandalf but there’s a wizard on court and it’s Novak Djokovic. He’s pulled things back brilliantly – now up a break of serve to lead Murray 3-0 and now he’s at triple break point!
1st Set Game 9: ANDY MURRAY WINS THE FIRST SET! He’s on fire today and playing with minimal errors in his game. He’s up 6-3.
1st set Game 8: They’re rallying, and there’s a bit of a fight. Novak Djokovic is not sure it’s in and he asks for it to be checked. A bit incensed. It’s just in. The line judge checks clay marks and hawkeye says it’s in. Game Djokovic, who trails 3-5.
1st set Game 6: Novak Djokovic is back – or is he? A brilliant rally between the two as Djokovic scores the point with a beautiful drop shot and eventually takes the game. He’s still trailing 2-4, though.
Murray’s playing some brilliant tennis today. Scrambling around the baseline, he’s incredibly agile and turning in all directions to make some shots.
1st set Game 5 : Andy Murray capitalizes to hold! He’s now up 4-1 and it’s all going haywire for Novak Djokovic as Murray rallies from the baseline.
Djokovic doesn’t look too comfortable – he’s already committed 6 unforced errors in the first set; Murray on the other hand, has only committed one.
1st set Game 4 : Murray breaks back! Boris Becker’s in the stands and he doesn’t look too happy. 3-1 Andy Murray.
1st Set Game 3 : Normal service resumed. Murray holds his serve to nil. Some good first serves in the game.
1st Set Game 2 : Djokovic saves two of them, with a gorgeous cross-court forehand and an ace. Murray though gets the game with a delightful drop shot followed by an inch-perfect backhand lob.
1st Set Game 2 : Murray with three break points, crazy start to the game. Djokovic getting a taste of his own medicine.
1st Set Game 1 : Djokovic breaks Murray in the first game itself. Murray is still to trouble the scorers.
1st Set Game 1 : Three break points for Djokovic.
1st Set Game 1 : We get underway with Murray serving to Djokovic. Straight away Djokovic throws in a delightful drop shot. 0-15 to Djokovic.
The formality of the toss is done, and the players start to warm-up. It’s only fitting that these two contest the Final, both with great clay court seasons.
The players are accompanied to the court by the ball-boys, Andy Murray first, followed by the favorite Djokovic. A great reception for both players.
Almost time! It’s all going down on Court Philippe Chatrier as the pair duke it out for their respective first French Open titles.
It’s a battle of World No. 1 vs World No. 2 as Novak Djokovic takes on Andy Murray. The Serb, who was a finalist last year, has never won the title, losing last year to Swiss Stan Wawrinka, who himself exited the French open in the semi-finals following a four-set loss to Murray.
Djokovic leads the pair's rivalry by a significant margin, having won 23 of the pair’s 33 matches so far.
The two have also met at Roland Garros before – most recently in 2015, with Djokovic ousting Murray in the semifinals of the event. The two have met on clay on four occasions, with Murray winning on one occasion – a key one, given the Scot took that victory to win the title at the Italian Open or the Rome Masters last month with a straight sets victory over his struggling Serbian rival.
The top seed had earlier struggled against Japanese player Kei Nishikori in the semi-finals of the event, almost losing as he scrambled to make the finals. He has never won the title at the French Open, in what has come to be known as his ‘French Open curse’.
Strangely, Djokovic is one of the most successful claycourt players in tennis, and arguably one of the most successful clay court players to have never won the title here.
Former No. 1 and King of Clay Rafael Nadal had been in fine form ahead of the tournament and was one of the frontrunners for the title, but withdrew ahead of his third round match with a serious wrist injury that ended an otherwise powerful run through the Open. He has won 9 titles here and was looking for a tenth – his La Decima – with a potential victory here.
Considering his own form over the past two years, Novak Djokovic looks to be the favourite to take the win here.
The two have crossed paths at Grand Slam finals on six occasions so far; Djokovic has won all four of their showdowns at the Australian Open (2011, 2013, 2015, 2016) and Murray has won at the US Open (2012) and Wimbledon (2013).
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