Djokovic and Murray Getting Golden Chance to Enhance Legacy in French Open SF

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are already future Hall of Famers. However, a 2015 French Open title would elevate their status among the all-time greats. 

Imagine that, a single title, at this tournament and one man changes the conversation about his legacy, for the rest of his life. 

Djokovic's win over Rafael Nadal paved the way for one of the four semifinalists to capture his first French Open title.

Stan Wawrinka would join Murray, Djokovic, Nadal, Lleyton Hewitt and Roger Federer, as the only active players on the ATP Tour with more than one Grand Slam title. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga would delight a nation, becoming the first Frenchman to win the French Open since Yannick Noah in 1983.

However, a French Open victory for Djokovic or Murray carries weightier historic significance. The two meet in the semifinals Friday. 

Djokovic would complete the career Grand Slam and bag his ninth Slam title. This would place him ahead of Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl and Andre Agassi, and behind only Federer (17), Pete Sampras (14), Nadal (14) and Bjorn Borg (11) for most Slams in the open era. He would also keep alive his chances of adding a calendar-year Grand Slam.  

Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Murray would become the first British player, male or female, to win the French Open in the open era. H. Briggs won the very first French Open, back in 1891. Murray would be an Australian Open title away from capturing a career Slam. He could also quiet the chatter about whether he belongs among the Big Four. 

As the last two arrivals in the Big Four, Djokovic and Murray have had to work harder to carve out individual identities. A win at Roland Garros would help. Federer, the great, is clearly fading in the twilight of his career. Nadal, even if only for the moment, appears to be breaking down.

With a French Open title, Djokovic or Murray can change the trajectory of their legacy. In an instant, they go from member of the pack to top dog. Djokovic strengthens his hold on the No. 1 ranking and would be winner of three of the last four Slams.

Murray would edge closer to Federer's vulnerable spot at No. 2 and can lay claim to being the best clay-court player in 2015. 

Djokovic told reporters at a Roland Garros press conference that beating Nadal was huge, but he has work to do against Murray.

"Right now I'm aware that this is a big win, which I will enjoy tonight," Djokovic said. "But tomorrow is a new day and I have to move on. It's only quarter-finals, and I want to fight for the title. That's what I came here for. I have to kind of direct my thoughts to the semis."

That's a tough task. Djokovic spent so much energy trying to solve his Nadal problem that he'll have to recharge his emotions to avoid a letdown against Murray. As he told reporters after his win over his long-time rival, preparing for a match against Nadal, at Roland Garros, is different from facing any other player:

"

It’s a special thing, a special match. You prepare for this match in the best possible way tactically, mentally and to get out there and execute your plan. Obviously, it’s easier said than done. When you are on the court with him, and on the court he has lost only once in his entire career, it’s not always easy to sometimes execute the plan you prepared before the match. But I managed to do that.

"

But beating Nadal doesn't grant Djokovic some free ticket to a title. An article written by Christopher Clarey of the New York Times declared: "The Long Chase is Over as Novak Djokovic Clobbers Rafael Nadal."

Is it really? Conquering Nadal solved only half of the equation. Djokovic needs to win the French Open to strengthen his legacy. Dethroning the "King of Clay" only set up a semifinal match against a British prince staking his own claim to the crown. Murray is undefeated on clay this season. He's ceding nothing to Djokovic.

Francois Mori/Associated Press

Murray's fighting for his own place in history and is aware of how rare this opportunity is. It's what he plays for, he told Eurosport:

"

To put yourself in position to win against the best players in the world, it's not just about one day before the match. It's about what you do in the whole of the build up to it....And going into the match having not lost on clay this year and having some big wins on the surface is important for me. I will just keep doing what I have been doing.

"

Murray's win could also set a historic precedent for female coaches. A French Open title would make Amelie Mauresmo the first female coach of a men's Grand Slam winner. 

When Murray hired Mauresmo last year, many questioned his decision. Murray won the 2012 U.S. Open and 2013 Wimbledon titles with Ivan Lendl as coach. He has yet to win a Grand Slam under Mauresmo.

Murray believes his improved play on clay, semifinals run at the Australian Open and appearance in the semis at the French Open prove his collaboration with Mauresmo is working. However, when he spoke with the Independent's Paul Newman, Murray acknowledged that a Grand Slam win might be needed to silence the critics. 

"

Like I said at the start, people are going to say that my relationship or the work that I’ve done with Amelie will be a success only if I win Grand Slams. That’s what people will judge it on obviously...I’m starting to get more wins against higher-ranked players and top players, which is something that I wasn’t doing last year. Hopefully it keeps going that way. But it does show that the stuff that was getting said about her at the end of last year was completely unfair and unacceptable.

"

Pat Cash, winner of 1987 Wimbledon, told Piers Newbery of BBC Sport that Murray is exactly where he wants to be. "This is what Andy was hoping to achieve—a semifinal. He's having a great clay-court season."  

Djokovic has the head-to-head edge, 18-8, and has beaten Murray seven straight. However, the Daily Mail's Mike Dickson believes Djokovic has more pressure on him and this benefits Murray. Dickson wrote that "Murray has less expected of him, and he should be able to play freely off the back of this 15th consecutive clay-court win, testament to the fact he has mastered the surface as he moves into his late 20s."

What a golden opportunity for both men. The symmetry provided by early exits of Federer and Nadal and a Djokovic-Murray semifinal reflects the tiny tilt toward balance in what had been a top-heavy Big Four. 

As Federer and Nadal falter, Djokovic and Murray appear ready to strengthen their positions in the Big Four era. A win at Roland Garros is a strong place to start.