Skip to content

Plotting Andy Murray's potential route to the French Open final

Andy Murray of Great Britain celebrates a point in his Men's Semi Final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia  on day thirteen o

Who must Andy Murray defeat if he claims a maiden French Open title? Sky Sports have plotted his potential route and, of course, it includes Novak Djokovic...

First Round - Radek Stepanek

When the draw handed Murray a qualifier he would have hoped for something better than the seasoned Czech veteran who ran him so close in Madrid just a few weeks ago....and did so again as Murray needed two days and five sets to see off the 37-year-old.

Stepanek took the first two sets to leave Murray with an uphill battle but the Scot raced through the third 6-0 and broke early in the fourth before play on Monday was halted by the light.

When the match resumed on Tuesday it wasn't all plain-sailing for Murray but he eventually prevailed 3-6 3-6 6-0 6-3 7-5

Murray battles past Stepanek
Murray battles past Stepanek

Five set victory for British number one

Second Round - Mathias Bourge

The 22-year-old from France is the world No 164 and, on paper, looked unlikely to provide Murray with anything other than practice time on the clay courts.

Also See:

Not so as Murray again laboured through a five-set epic that took almost four hours. This time Murray did manage to take the first set and led 2-0 to the second before what appeared to be a lack of concentration let Borge back in and spurred on by the home crowd the wild card from Avignon took sets two and three.

A refocused Murray rallied to take the match comfortably in the end but are the five-setters going to take their toll?

Murray battles on
Murray battles on

Report as Murray sees off Borgue in Paris

Third Round - Ivo Karlovic

Another 37-year-old but a vastly different outcome for Murray.

The British number one has a brilliant record against the big server from Croatia and as one of the best returners in the games relishes the challenge of the big guns.

A blistering start ensured he came through in straight sets to set up a meeting with another huge hitter in the shape of American 15th seed John Isner.

Murray finds form
Murray finds form

Andy Murray through to last 16 in straight sets in Paris

Fourth Round - John Isner

Another big serving opponent was seen off in straight sets. Murray improving to a 6-0 record against the 31-year-old American.

Break points were few and far between and Murray seized the initiative in a first set tie-break before coming through in fairly routine fashion to make the quarter-finals in Paris.

Murray beats big serving Isner
Murray beats big serving Isner

Another straight sets win for British number one

Quarter-Final - Richard Gasquet

The last remaining Frenchman, on Philippe-Chatrier, an occasion to intimidate many but but not Murray who recovered from losing the first set and trailing 3-1 in the second set tie-break to silence the crowd and book his place in the last four.

Murray into the last four
Murray into the last four

Report from quarter-final victory over Gasquet

Semi-Final - Stan Wawrinka

Murray powers past Wawrinka
Murray powers past Wawrinka

Murray victorious over defending champion

Murray produced a brilliant performance to see off the defending champion Wawrinka in four sets to set up yet another meeting with Novak Djokovic in another Grand Slam final.

The Scot was dominant from the outset to take a comfortably two-set lead, before an inspired Wawrinka came back to take the third set.

But Murray was not to be denied and powered through the fourth set with two breaks of serve for a hugely impressive victory.

Final - Novak Djokovic

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights of Murray's recent win over Djokovic

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights of Murray's recent win over Djokovic

And so to the finale, where Murray's greatest rival will await assuming he overcomes the French Open's most successful player Rafael Nadal.

If it's world No 1 Djokovic, Murray may just enter fancying his chances more so than usual. Djokovic has notoriously never won the French Open and it remains the only Grand Slam missing from his trophy cabinet, so the pressure is on.

Added to that, Murray won their most recent meeting in the final of the Rome Masters, although Djokovic won seven days previously in the final of Madrid. Djokovic leads a 23-10 head-to-head record.

Check our game-by-game updates of the French Open final on skysports.com/tennis, our app for mobile devices and iPad and our Twitter account @skysportstennis.

By purchasing a Sky Sports Day Pass for £6.99 or Sky Sports Week Pass for £10.99, you can enjoy access to all seven Sky Sports channels and watch on a TV with a NOW TV Box or on a range of devices.

Around Sky