Tennis
Roland Garros, Paris

Andy ends Stan's reign

Meets Novak in Sunday's final
Andy Murray is elated after winning a point. File Photo: AFP

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will meet in a Grand Slam title clash for a seventh time on Sunday after comprehensive semi-final triumphs swept the world's top two players into the French Open final.

Djokovic reached his fourth final in Paris with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 demolition of Austria's Dominic Thiem to move one match closer to a career Grand Slam.

The world number one will now tackle second seed Murray who knocked out defending champion Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.

Djokovic, playing in a 20th final at the majors, is seeking a first Roland Garros crown to become just the eighth man to complete the career Slam. Murray, also 29, can become the first British winner of the men's title since Fred Perry in 1935.

Sunday will be Djokovic's sixth successive Grand Slam championship match as he looks to add to his collection of 11 majors.

He already holds the Wimbledon, US and Australian Open trophies.

Djokovic sprinted out to a 3-0 lead in the opener on the back of a break in the second game against 13th-seeded Thiem.

A double fault by the young Austrian opened the door for Djokovic to take the first set in the eighth game.

Djokovic was just as untouchable in the second set despite playing for a fourth successive day.

Breaks for the Serb came in the fourth and sixth games and the set was wrapped up in just 25 minutes.

Thiem, playing in his first Grand Slam semi-final, had taken just nine points off the Djokovic serve at that stage.

However, Thiem broke and held for a 3-0 lead in the third set. But Djokovic roared back, sweeping the next five games for 5-3 and then fighting off a break point to serve out the match.

Murray and Djokovic have already played each other in six Grand Slam finals with Djokovic winning four times in Australia and Murray emerging on top at the US Open and Wimbledon.

Murray broke serve in the third game and that proved to be enough for him to pocket the first set in a hotly-disputed 10th game where Wawrinka had break points to level.

The second set followed a similar pattern with Murray breaking in the third game, but this time the two-time major champion made it back-to-back breaks as he pulled 5-1 clear.

Murray finally stumbled at 4-5 down in the third set with a couple of unforced errors that allowed Wawrinka to get the break he needed.

The comeback was short-lived as Murray broke serve to open the fourth set and he quickly opened up a 2-0 lead. Wawrinka then played a dismal service game to allow Murray to pull 5-2 clear and it was all over shortly after that.

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Roland Garros, Paris

Andy ends Stan's reign

Meets Novak in Sunday's final
Andy Murray is elated after winning a point. File Photo: AFP

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will meet in a Grand Slam title clash for a seventh time on Sunday after comprehensive semi-final triumphs swept the world's top two players into the French Open final.

Djokovic reached his fourth final in Paris with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 demolition of Austria's Dominic Thiem to move one match closer to a career Grand Slam.

The world number one will now tackle second seed Murray who knocked out defending champion Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.

Djokovic, playing in a 20th final at the majors, is seeking a first Roland Garros crown to become just the eighth man to complete the career Slam. Murray, also 29, can become the first British winner of the men's title since Fred Perry in 1935.

Sunday will be Djokovic's sixth successive Grand Slam championship match as he looks to add to his collection of 11 majors.

He already holds the Wimbledon, US and Australian Open trophies.

Djokovic sprinted out to a 3-0 lead in the opener on the back of a break in the second game against 13th-seeded Thiem.

A double fault by the young Austrian opened the door for Djokovic to take the first set in the eighth game.

Djokovic was just as untouchable in the second set despite playing for a fourth successive day.

Breaks for the Serb came in the fourth and sixth games and the set was wrapped up in just 25 minutes.

Thiem, playing in his first Grand Slam semi-final, had taken just nine points off the Djokovic serve at that stage.

However, Thiem broke and held for a 3-0 lead in the third set. But Djokovic roared back, sweeping the next five games for 5-3 and then fighting off a break point to serve out the match.

Murray and Djokovic have already played each other in six Grand Slam finals with Djokovic winning four times in Australia and Murray emerging on top at the US Open and Wimbledon.

Murray broke serve in the third game and that proved to be enough for him to pocket the first set in a hotly-disputed 10th game where Wawrinka had break points to level.

The second set followed a similar pattern with Murray breaking in the third game, but this time the two-time major champion made it back-to-back breaks as he pulled 5-1 clear.

Murray finally stumbled at 4-5 down in the third set with a couple of unforced errors that allowed Wawrinka to get the break he needed.

The comeback was short-lived as Murray broke serve to open the fourth set and he quickly opened up a 2-0 lead. Wawrinka then played a dismal service game to allow Murray to pull 5-2 clear and it was all over shortly after that.

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