By Chris Oddo | Saturday November 7, 2015
Novak Djokovic dropped a set but kept his winning streak and title hopes alive in Paris with a win over Stan Wawrinka.
Photo Source: Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images
After dropping five games on the trot to Stan Wawrinka in the second set, Novak Djokovic’s run of 29 consecutive sets won would finally come to an end in Paris, but the Serb dug in and zoomed past the Swiss in a one-sided decider to clinch his 21st consecutive win, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, to set up a Paris final clash with Andy Murray on Sunday.
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With the win Djokovic has broken the Open Era record for consecutive finals reached in a single season with 14 (passing Guillermo Vilas). The Serb will bid for his tenth title of 2015, and 58th of his career, in the final.
Djokovic looked to be headed to an easy victory after taking the first set 6-3 and opening up a 2-0 lead in the second set. But a resilient Wawrinka, who had finished his quarterfinal victory over Rafael Nadal after 1 A.M. on the previous night, produced some of the magical tennis that has made him a two-time Grand Slam champion over the last two seasons.
He reeled off five straight games, including a gritty break to draw level at 2-all in set two when he converted his 5th break point of the game.
As the set wore on, Djokovic became increasingly frustrated with his level and even earned a code violation for racquet abuse when he smashed a racquet off the soles of his shoes.
But the 10-time major champion would come back with a determined effort in the final set to win his 16th decider of the season against just two losses.
He broke for 2-0 on his third break point of the game and that opened the floodgates for an inspiring waltz to the finish. Djokovic would seal the match on his first match point to close affairs in one hour and 50 minutes.
Djokovic improves to 77-5 on the season with the victory, and 19-4 against Wawrinka.
He struck 25 winners on the day against 24 unforced errors, and saved five of seven break points.
He’ll face Murray for the 30th time on Sunday. The Serb holds the 20-9 lifetime edge, including five of six in 2015.
With a win, Djokovic would pass his coach Boris Becker and Marat Safin and become the first four-time winner at Paris. He would also become the first player in history to win six Masters 1000 titles in a single season.