How can Murray overcome his Serbian nemesis?

Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray 6-3 6-3 5-7 5-7 6-1

Watching an Andy Murray Tennis match can be akin to being on a rollercoaster. One minute you're down, the next you're up, and so it goes on. His latest battle with Novak Djokovic was yet again very much like that. There was despair after losing the first two sets and then looking likely to be broken in the third. Hope was restored as he bravely fought back to snatch the next two sets. But the despondency returned as the deciding set all too easily slipped through his fingers.

Djokovic is a model of consistency, seemingly able to find the accelerator pedal just when he needs it.

Murray did at least challenge him this time, unlike several of their encounters in the past, pushing him all (most) of the way. The eventual outcome was much the same as the previous seven tussles between the pair though in the end, Murray's last victory over him coming in that history-making Wimbledon final in 2013.

Murray's quick start

Their semi-final at Roland Garros had been suspended on Friday evening at 3-3 in the fourth set by the officials, pre-warned that a storm was about to hit Paris. The players resumed their match at midday yesterday, with the crowd not knowing what to expect: a quick finish or maybe an extension of the action into a fifth set? They got the latter but sadly for the 'romantics' among those gathered at courtside, it was not to be an epic fifth set this time around.

Murray found his touch straight away to take the fourth set 7-5 and it seemed that the momentum from the previous evening might still be with the Brit. They had both looked strong on their own serves up to 5-5, when Murray made the decisive break and served out for the set.

Clinical fifth set

Djokovic had other ideas though and quickly snuffed out the threat from his familiar opponent, breaking early in the fifth set and then gaining a double break to all but settle the match.

He rattled through the set 6-1, sensing that Murray's resistance was dwindling, to ensure that the career Grand Slam remains a distinct possibility still.



Wawrinka in the final

The top seed can now look forward to the final later today, where he will face the well-rested Stan Wawrinka, his semi-final against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga having been played to completion on Friday.

With the head to head showing that Djokovic has had the edge 17-3 in their previous meetings, it would be a brave man indeed who would bet against the Serbian claiming his first title in Paris and ninth Grand Slam in total.

Another near miss