French Open 2015: Djokovic locked in Murray battle, Wawrinka into final balletomanes

While Wawrinka booked his spot in Sunday's final at Roland Garros, the clash between Djokovic and Murray had to be suspended at about 8:30 p.m. local time Friday due to an impending storm that brought dark clouds and caused bad light.

Djokovic led Murray 6-3 6-3 5-7 3-3 when they were forced off Philippe-Chatrier court but it could have been even better for the world No. 1. For two-and-a-half sets against his longtime pal, Djokovic looked dominant.

Indeed two days after handing 'King of Clay' Rafael Nadal only his second French Open loss in 72 matches, there was no letdown. Instead, Djokovic picked up where he left off.



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Wawrinka reached a second grand slam final and once again broke French hearts by defeating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 6-7 (1/7) 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 in the first semifinal, when Friday's blistering heat was at its sapping worst. Temperatures soared to around 35 degrees Celsius.

Wawrinka won't be Mr. Popular in France.

It was the same Wawrinka who crushed Tsonga in the Davis Cup final in Lille, France last November and turned out to be the star man for the Swiss -- not Roger Federer for a change -- as they won a maiden title in tennis' most prestigious team competition.

Wawrinka will forever remain in Federer's shadow when it comes to Swiss tennis and he was reminded of that in his post-match press conference. To begin the session, a reporter informed the 30-year-old, 'You have a chance to equalize Roger Federer in Roland Garros number of slams.'

A seemingly unimpressed Wawrinka replied: 'Great for the first question to put Roger on it.'

But the eighth seed has no doubt made a name for himself, too, after winning last year's Australian Open and now landing in the French Open final. Triumphing in Melbourne was no fluke.

Neither is Djokovic's 27-match winning streak.

He bossed proceedings against Murray in the early stages and was well on his way to a third French Open final.

With the heat more of a factor in the first set, Djokovic seemed to signal to his camp that he was in distress: He's been known to suffer more than other players when it sizzles, last year's U.S. Open loss against Kei Nishikori a case in point.

Yet it hardly impacted his game.

Djokovic broke for 5-3 and ripped two forehand winners in succession en route to serving out the opener. He broke at the same stage in the second -- Murray blowing a 40-15 lead on serve -- and held two break points at 3-2 in the third.

The Serb was toying with an opponent who'd gone 15-0 on clay this season.

Murray, however, somehow survived the onslaught and outstanding shot-making at 5-5 got the Scot back into the match.

He chased a lob, swiveled and ripped a forehand past Djokovic for 15-all, then implored the crowd to get involved.

They obliged and on the next point the fans were on their feet again when Murray pummeled a forehand down the line from around the doubles alley. Out of nowhere, he had his first break points and duly converted to lead 6-5. Chants of 'Andy, Andy' reverberated around the stadium.

Adding to the building drama, for the second time this tournament, Djokovic received a medical timeout -- this one off court -- presumably for the hip problem that also necessitated the trainer in the second round.

The fourth set unfolded in fading light and gusting winds as the ever changing weather in Paris this fortnight did its thing again.

Extended, cagey rallies became the norm, Murray winning 10 straight points to escape on serve and subsequently break. Djokovic, though, broke back.

A boost for Murray, in the last game he escaped a 15-40 hole on serve.

Although Wawrinka played the crucial points well, Tsonga won't enjoy reading the break point statistics: The 14th seed went 1-for-17, including 0-for-6 in the pivotal third set when he had most of the momentum.

Whoever lost that third set faced an uphill climb -- having to win the fourth and fifth sets in a bruising contest and in the scorching conditions. It was too much for Tsonga.

Unusual for a tennis match, chair umpire Carlos Ramos allowed both players to go to their chairs for a drink after the fourth game of the third set, which wasn't a changeover.

The ever charismatic Tsonga failed in his bid to become the first Frenchman to make the final since Henri Leconte in 1988. He was also upended in the semis two years ago by David Ferrer.

When the dust settles and Tsonga embarks on the grass-court swing, he'll likely consider the fortnight a success since he has missed most of this season with an arm injury. But his victories over Tomas Berdych and Kei Nishikori -- two top-10 players who have been consistent performers in 2015 -- must have raised the hopes of a tennis loving nation desperate for a home champion.

Meanwhile women's No. 1 Serena Williams is facing a race against time to be fit for Saturday's women's final against 13th-seed Lucie Safarova.

In a question-and-answer session released by organizers, the American said she 'collapsed' after her comeback three-set win over Wawrinka's fellow Swiss Timea Bacsinszky and 'couldn't move.'

Her troubles, she added, began in the 'third or fourth' round.

Williams didn't practice Friday.

'I felt really terrible during the semis against Timea,' said Williams. 'I'm actually not sure how I got through the match and when it was over I just kind of collapsed. I couldn't move.

'I saw the tournament doctor on site and since I came home I've been resting,' Williams, who owns a residence in the French capital, continued. 'I think I have some kind of flu which makes it tough, because it's just a matter of resting and keeping hydrated -- there's not much else I can do.

'I need time and obviously don't have a lot but it helps that I can be at my apartment and have my friends and family with me.'

Safarova, into her first grand slam singles final, remains on course for a double after combining with Bethanie Mattek-Sands to win their doubles semifinal. The third seeds edged ninth-seeds Andrea Hlavackova and Lucie Hradecka 6-2 5-7 6-4.

Williams leads Safarova in their head-to-head series 8-0.

'It's very upsetting that I feel so lousy right now,' said Williams. 'I just have to hope that tomorrow I will be feeling a lot better and able to give my best on court.'

Read: Ailing Serena pulls off another comeback



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