PARIS — Once again, Novak Djokovic is on the precipice of history at the French Open, reaching the final for the fourth time in five years at the only major tournament he hasn’t won.
In addition to trying to complete a career Grand Slam, Djokovic will be hoping to accomplish something even more rare — winning a fourth consecutive major title, something that hasn’t been done by a man in nearly a half-century.
On court for the fourth straight day at rain-logged Roland Garros, the No. 1-seeded Djokovic raced through his semifinal Friday with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 victory over No. 13 Dominic Thiem of Austria.
“Best performance of the tournament,” declared Djokovic, an 11-time major champion.
After a welcome day of rest, he will face No. 2 Andy Murray in Sunday’s final. Murray became the first British man since 1937 to get that far in Paris, ousting defending champion Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.
“I’m extremely proud,” said Murray, his voice wavering during an on-court interview. “I never expected to reach the final here.”
Murray had lost his previous three semifinals at Roland Garros, including a five-setter against Djokovic a year ago.
Djokovic, meanwhile, is 0-3 in title matches at the French Open, losing to Rafael Nadal in 2012 and 2014, then Wawrinka in 2015, each time in four sets. That loss to Wawrinka was Dokovic’s most recent at a major.
Back in 2012, Djokovic also was on a 27-match winning streak at Grand Slam tournaments, just as he is entering Sunday. Succeed in making it 28 this time, and he will have pulled off a perfect run through the past four majors, starting with Wimbledon last season.
The last man to win the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open in a row was Rod Laver, who took all four titles in 1969.
“Well, look,” the 29-year-old Djokovic said, “now I put myself in a position in which I wanted to be, of course, ever since last year’s final.”
When he assured his return by closing out Thiem in an energy-saving 1 hour, 48 minutes, Djokovic celebrated in style, corralling a half-dozen ball kids and choreographing a joint bow to the crowd at Court Suzanne Lenglen as spectators shouted, “Ole!”
Because of all the showers this week that jumbled the schedule, the semifinals were played simultaneously, and tickets to Lenglen went for a bargain-basement rate of 20 euros ($22), creating what Djokovic called an “amazing ambience.”
He thrived in it, never allowing the 22-year-old Thiem — “a leader of a new generation,” Djokovic said — to get a foothold in his first Slam semifinal.
“He was just too strong today,” Thiem explained. “That’s all I can say.”
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
