Sunday 7 June 2015 12:00, UK
The penultimate day of French Open saw Serena Williams crowned women's champion and Andy Murray fall short in his semi-final with Novak Djokovic.
The British No 1 resumed his match with his Serbian rival trailing by two sets to one and tied at three games apiece in the fourth set. However, despite taking the match to a decider, Murray eventually succumbed to a 6-3 6-3 5-7 5-7 6-1 defeat.
Meanwhile, Williams was all smiles at the end of her match with Lucie Safarova but was rather less calm during the contest. Her outbursts saw her given a verbal obscenity warning during the third set but despite having to watch her language, the world No 1 saw out the set to win her 20th Grand Slam title.
Closing the gap?
The outcome may not have been what Andy Murray was after but his performance for much of the match against Novak Djokovic, and indeed throughout the tournament, was encouraging.
Indeed, the Scot believes he is close to the level he needs to be at to win another Grand Slam.
"I'd suggest it's pretty close between us after today's match," Murray said. "Obviously right now I'm upset but I would say, after Novak, I've probably played the best tennis in the major events.
"My game I think is back close to where it needs to be to be winning slams.
"Obviously now with the grass-court season coming up, hopefully I can get myself an opportunity there and play much better going into the grass this year than I was last year.
"Physically I'm in a much better place. We'll see what happens the next few months, but it's been a good start to the year."
Serena a cut above
Credit must go to Lucie Safarova for her valiant effort to fight back from the brink to take her final against Serena Williams to a deciding set.
However, when it came down to it, Williams was just too good. A break down in the final set, she reeled off six straight games to win the title and move to within two of Steffi Graf's record of 22 Grand Slam singles titles in the Open era.
"When I was a little girl, in California, my father and my mother wanted me to play tennis. And now I'm here, with 20 Grand Slam titles," said the 33-year-old American, speaking in French.
"This is very special for me. I haven't always played very well here, but I'm really happy to win the 20th here."
Williams is now halfway to a clean sweep of major titles in 2015 and will arrive at Wimbledon as favourite to secure her sixth singles title at the All England Club.
No stopping Novak
Plenty has been made of the fact that Murray has now lost his last eight games against Djokovic. However, such has been the brilliance of the Serb that it is nothing to be ashamed of.
Djokovic, who has lost just two matches all year, will be a heavy favourite for Sunday's final against Stan Wawrinka but is refusing to take anything for granted.
"It is obviously very encouraging knowing that I have won all of the big events from last October, and playing some of my best tennis," he said.
"But I have been in this situation before when people were speculating, is this the year or not? Can I win the title or not.
"Whatever rest I have in me, whatever I have left in me I will put out on the court tomorrow, and hopefully it can be enough."
