Andy Murray will face Novak Djokovic in French Open final

Novak Djokovic is back in the final of the French Open, earning another chance to win the only Grand Slam that has eluded him with a 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 semifinal victory against Dominic Thiem.

Djokovic’s opponent in the final will be Andy Murray, through to the championship match at the clay-court Grand Slam for the first time.

The No. 2-seeded Murray, who stalled in the semifinals three times previously, beat defending champion Stan Wawrinka, 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Murray is the first British player through to the final in Paris since Bunny Austin in 1937.

He won the last game to love, punishing a weak attempted lob from Wawrinka on match point with a smash to close out the victory.

“Looking forward to the final,” Murray said. “I’m extremely proud.”

Novak Djokovic hits a backhand against Dominic Thiem at the French Open on Friday.

(Dennis Grombkowski / Getty Images )

A first double fault from Djokovic in his first service game put him under immediate pressure, at 0-30, at the start of the third set. Thiem then worked his way to 15-40, only for Djokovic to save the first break point with a forehand winner. But he could do nothing about the second, looking on with bemusement as Thiem thumped a winner of his own into the corner to take a 2-0 lead. A service game to love from Thiem then put him up, 3-0.

But the fightback was short-lived. Two games later, a long forehand from Thiem gave Djokovic two breakpoints. He needed just the first, taking that game and then holding serve to level at 3-3.

Djokovic then went back on the offensive, breaking Thiem again in the seventh game for 4-3 and giving the young Austrian no quarter when he tried to outfox the Serb with a lob. Not only did Djokovic run to the back of the court to retrieve the ball, he then hit a winner for the point, congratulating himself with a clenched fist.

With Djokovic serving for the match at 5-4, Thiem was fresh out of fight and ideas. Djokovic netted a forehand at 30-all to give Thiem a last-gasp break point, but he couldn’t exploit it.

When Djokovic then got to match point, Thiem hit a backhand wide.

Djokovic celebrated in style, gathering together six ball boys and girls with him on court. They all raised their arms to the skies as the crowd shouted “Ole!”