By Chris Oddo | Saturday June 420, 2016

 

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will meet for the 34th time on Sunday. Is this their biggest tilt ever?

Photo Source: Dennis Grombkowski/Getty

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will meet in a Grand Slam final for the seventh time on Sunday in Paris. It will be their first meeting in the Roland Garros final, however.The pair played many a massive match in the past, but this one may be bigger than all the others given what’s at stake for each.

What’s at Stake

Djokovic’s quest for the Roland Garros title has been much publicized even before he came into Roland Garros with a chance to claim the coveted Career Slam. Months before he won his first Wimbledon title in 2011, Djokovic came to Roland Garros and promptly had his 43-match winning streak snapped by Roger Federer in the semifinals. That began a period of heartbreak that has stretched on for five seasons now. In that time Djokovic emerged as a worthy rival to Rafael Nadal on clay, then he surpassed Nadal, but despite reaching three finals at the French, including last year when he became the second man to ever defeat Nadal on the terre battue, he has not been able to triumph.

Can he finally get over the hump in 2016 or does more heartbreak await?

Five years ago, Murray was more than an afterthought at Roland Garros than a favorite. He was a player that had all the tools but one that really hadn’t taken to the clay like the other members of the big four. But that has changed in the last few years and now Murray is a bona fide threat on the dirt. He pushed Djokovic to five grueling sets last year in the semifinals in Paris, playing a key role in tiring out the Serb so that Wawrinka could finish him off in the final. This year, Murray defeated Djokovic in Rome for his biggest clay-court victory and title ever, and he’s come through a very difficult fortnight in Paris to take his place in the final.

Can he shock the world and become the first British man to win Roland Garros in 81 years?

What they are saying

Murray, on making his first Roland Garros final: “To reach the finals of the French the first time, that's a big moment for me. It's not an easy thing to do. You know, like I said a few years ago, I never really expected to be able to do that. To play the way that I did today after a tough start to the tournament, yeah, was just really, really happy with that.”

Djokovic, on how much Murray has improved on clay: “You know, he's a fighter. He has improved so much on the clay court over the years. I mean, this season is a great example of that. I'm sure that it's gonna be a final with a lot of emotions and a lot of exchanges from the baseline because we have similar styles of game. I know his game; he knows mine. I'm sure we're gonna try to both give it all on Sunday.”

What they need to do to win Despite Murray’s vastly improved clay game, Djokovic is the more natural clay-courter with all the tools to succeed on the surface. He’s a better defender on the surface and he is better suited to grind out long rallies over a longer period of time. But Djokovic won’t be able to simply rely on his defense against a confident Murray. The Serb tried that plan last year and ended up being hit off the court by Wawrinka. Djokovic will have to vary his attack against Murray to keep him off balance. Even in heavy conditions Murray has proven he can hit through the molasses-like clay-court conditions in Paris, so Djokovic will need to move the ball around and change directions in rallies and throw in some drop shots and serve and volleys to take the upper hand.

Murray, meanwhile, has played the perfect tennis in his last few matches. He attacked boldly against Richard Gasquet and Stan Wawrinka, rarely passing up a chance to drill a winner or to take a rally by the horns. He’ll have to keep this strategy of moving forward behind an aggressive attack against Djokovic. He does not want to get locked into to a battle of attrition with the fittest, most hungry player in the game. It’s never a good strategy, but it could be particularly detrimental on Sunday when the Serb is well rested after a day off and a straight-sets romp on Friday. Lastly, Murray will need his serve to be there. He’ll need a high number of first serves in the box and he’ll need to find a way to avoid getting pummeled on his second offering (something that Djokovic has done to him on many occasions).

By the Numbers

23-10: Djokovic’s lifetime record against Murray, including 4-1 on clay.

8: Djokovic is looking to become the 8th man to complete the Career Slam, which is comprised of winning all four majors.

3: Djokovic is bidding to become the third man in history to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time, joining Don Budge and Rod Laver.

17:50: Amount of time that Murray has spent on court in his first six matches. Djokovic has spent 12:54.

1992: The last time a player won the first two legs of the Calendar Slam. It was Jim Courier. The feat has only been accomplished three times in the Open Era (Wilander, Laver).

8: Most meetings in a Grand Slam final by the same two players, Open Era. Federer and Nadal have played eight finals at majors. Nadal and Djokovic and now Nadal and Murray have played seven finals at majors.

20: Number of Grand Slam finals that Djokovic has reached, which ties him with Nadal for second most on the all-time list.

1937: The year that Bunny Austin last played the Roland Garros final. He was the last player from Great Britain to reach the final in Paris until Murray achieved the feat on Friday.

2004:Murray is bidding to become the second man to win Roland Garros after being extended to five sets in his first two rounds. Gaston Gaudio achieved that feat in 2004.

Pick: Djokovic in five