McEnroe: This will be Murray’s best-ever chance to win in Paris
The 13th-seeded Thiem wore down good friend and sometime practice partner David Goffin, 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-4, 6-1, joining Thomas Muster and Jurgen Melzer as the third Austrian man to reach a Grand Slam semifinal.
“I would point to one thing that I think is the best part of his game, that he has one skill that is very unique: He really can read the game”, Berdych has said of Djokovic. “For both of us it was not easy with the conditions, but I am really happy right now”, said Thiem.
The world number one will tackle either second seed Andy Murray or defending champion Stan Wawrinka in Sunday’s title match in what will be the Serb’s 20th Grand Slam final.
But after reaching 5-4 on serve, Murray fired a forehand wide and sent a backhand into the net and Wawrinka was back in the match.
Murray knew he could not afford the same ups and downs that made his matches against Radek Stepanek, Mathias Bourgue and Richard Gasquet here so dramatic.
Legendary American tennis player John McEnroe has opined that Andy Murray has his best chance to win the French Open this year.
Murray had plenty of reason to be confident going into his match against Gasquet given his phenomenal record against both home players at the slams and Frenchmen.
The top seed admitted he was lucky he did not injure a linesman after he slammed his racket to the ground and it went flying into the baseline hoardings.
Novak Djokovic reached his 30th Grand Slam semifinal on Thursday, but his quest for a first French Open title was nearly scuppered by disqualification.
“Stan has been unbelievable the last two years”.
Djokovic has beaten Berdych in their last 10 meetings although the Czech will be slightly buoyed by knowing that his last win against the world number one was on clay three years ago.
“That’s why the day off [Saturday] will definitely serve me well”. Neither was Nadal, a nine-time French Open champ.
Earlier this week, leading players Venus Williams, Simona Halep and Agnieszka Radwanska, as well as Djokovic’s previous opponent Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, criticised organisers for making them play through rainy spells. Later that year, at the US Open, Murray’s back was in so bad a state that a couple of weeks later, he had surgery to fix the chronic problem and his season was over.
Djokovic, who has played through rain in each of his last three matches, said there was only one way to draw a line over the issue. “It’s just sometimes to have something for yourself to concentrate on”. I’m hoping we’re going to have it very soon.’ A few of the women who played the same time as him yesterday were saying they thought the conditions were not playable, that play should have been stopped.
But the Swiss is still backing Djokovic to win the final. He always seeks to improve his game and get better, which I do, too.
“I understand that not refunding spectators with tickets to the Philippe Chatrier Court has caused frustration and anger”.
Tournament director Guy Forget, who has been criticized for allegedly pushing competitors to play in the rain on Tuesday following Monday’s complete washout, said organizers wanted to ensure all players were treated equally. I don’t think that there is any particular advantage to my side.