PARIS (APP) – Andy Murray will play Novak Djokovic in the French Open final after the second seed ended Stan Wawrinka’s reign as the champion at Roland Garros on Friday.
Murray reached the title match in Paris for the first time with a comprehensive 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 semi-final win over the Swiss title-holder who was on a 12-match winning streak in the tournament.
The Scot is the 10th man in the Open era, since 1968, to reach final events in all four Grand Slam events.
Djokovic earlier went through to his fourth French Open final with a one-sided 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 win over Dominic Thiem of Austria.
Sunday’s two 29-year-old finalists have already played each other in six Grand Slam finals with Djokovic winning four times in Australia and Murray emerging on top at the US Open and Wimbledon.
Murray is the first British player to reach the French Open final since Bunny Austin in 1937 and on Sunday he will try to become the first British winner of the tournament since Fred Perry in 1935.
“I knew today that if I wanted to win I would have to play one of my best claycourt matches. Stan’s record here the last couple of years is unbelievable,” he said.
“I am extremely proud. I never expected to reach the final here. I always struggled on clay, but in the last few years I have had some of my best results (on clay).”
Murray and Wawrinka have played each other 15 times with Murray leading 8-7, although Wawrinka has taken their last three encounters including a straight sets quarter-final victory at the 2013 US Open.
