Murray or Djokovic? Who will win the Roland Garros 2016 men's final?

Last year Novak Djokovic played Andy Murray in the semi-final. The Serb prevailed in five sets played over two days. This year, they contest the 2016 final. Djokovic is still the circuit’s most potent operator and Murray remains his most frequent challenger.

Novak Djokovic celebrates a victory with a ball boy at Roland Garros 2016 RFI/Pierre René-Worms

Six months ago they were the last two standing at the Australian Open. Djokovic won that and if he triumphs on Sunday afternoon in Paris, he will collect a 12th grand slam title.

There will be other accolades too.

He will become the eighth man to have won crowns at all four grand slam venues and the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win four grand slam tournaments on the trot.

Murray’s possibilities aren’t quite as stratospheric. He is the first Briton since Bunny Austin in 1937 to reach the final in Paris.

The Briton’s camp will hope that is where the comparisons end as Austin lost to the German Henner Henkel.

Fourth time lucky for Djokovic?

“Roland Garros is high on the priority list when I start thinking about a new season,” said Djokovic. “To be able to reach a final is really special and I’ve given myself another opportunity to win the trophy.”

And the neutral would say he deserves it.

He has lost three finals. Rafael Nadal saw him off in four sets in 2012 and 2014. He must have thought it was his year in 2015 when he sent his erstwhile nemesis packing in the last eight.

But in the showdown last June, he came across an inspired Swiss in the shape of Stan Wawrinka. He lost yet again in four sets. Wawrinka exited in Friday’s semi-final. He lost in four sets to Murray and described his conqueror’s form as ominous.

“I’ve never played against him as strong as he was playing,” said Wawrinka. "Usually when he wants to be more aggressive, he forces himself to do this. He was hitting forehand shots immediately and I had to be defending. It paid off.”

Murray says the final against Djokovic will be a physical affair. Djokovic concurs as they both have a similar style of game. The difference is that Djokovic has won 23 of their 33 encounters.