French Open 2016 Men's Semifinal: TV Schedule, Start Time, Live-Stream Info

Although Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were forced to withdraw from the 2016 French Open because of injuries, there's no shortage of star power in the semifinals as Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka all reached the tournament's penultimate round.

They are joined by a lesser known commodity in Dominic Thiem. The 22-year-old Austria native isn't a household name quite yet, but his rapid ascent suggests that will change soon. A semifinal victory in the season's second major would expedite the process of his joining the game's elite.

Let's check out all of the important viewing information for Friday's action in the men's draw. That's followed by a Day 13 preview and predictions for which players will earn a berth in the title match.

Men's Semifinal Schedule

Court	Time (ET)	Matchup
Philippe Chatrier	9 a.m.	Andy Murray vs. Stan Wawrinka
Suzanne Lenglen	9 a.m.	Novak Djokovic vs. Dominic Thiem

Both matches are scheduled to begin on the Tennis Channel after the women's semifinals are complete. Coverage will switch to NBC and NBC Sports Network at 11 a.m. ET. Matches available via live stream on NBC Sports Live Extra.

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (13) Dominic Thiem

The Roland Garros title has become a holy grail of sorts for Djokovic. He's needed it to complete the career Grand Slam since 2012. While he's reached the final three times in the past four years, he's been unable to complete the job.

It's fair to wonder whether that's made the event more of a mental test than a physical one. Last year's French Open is the only major he didn't win since the start of the 2015 campaign, and his overall play during that span has been downright dominant at times.

Djokovic is also dealing with a situation where the constant rain delays, which have impacted everybody's schedule to some extent, are leaving him with a lack of rest days. He commented on the situation after his quarterfinal win over Tomas Berdych on Thursday, per Neil McLeman of the Mirror.

"It was a difficult match to play. The conditions were difficult for both players," the top seed said. "But at the end, I found my best game. I will have to play for four consecutive days, but for me, that is a positive thing."

He's still the player to beat regardless of the surrounding circumstances. That said, the added pressure of trying to win the French Open for the first time and the busy schedule at least leave the door slightly ajar for Thiem to pull off the upset.

Stuart Fraser of the Daily Mail highlighted the success both players have enjoyed in 2016:

The biggest key for Thiem is cutting down on his unforced errors without losing his aggressiveness. He had 49 winners in his quarterfinal victory over David Goffin, but he also racked up 46 unforced errors. That ratio must be far more favorable Friday if he wants to punch his ticket to the final.

Ultimately, Djokovic can probably sense the coveted title within his reach, and not having to face a healthy Federer or Nadal is an advantage, despite Thiem's strong play. He'll be tested, but it would be a serious surprise if he doesn't wind up in the championship match.

Prediction: Djokovic in four sets

(2) Andy Murray vs. (3) Stan Wawrinka

This match has all the makings of an instant classic. The only exception would be if Murray is simply too worn down to compete at a high level after some long, grueling matches earlier in the tournament, but there's been no sign of that being the case so far.

Wawrinka has found success against Murray in their recent meetings by going on the attack early and often, especially with his prized backhand. It prevents the Scottish star from finding his usual defensive rhythm, which is the basis for everything else he does.

Sky Sports News HQ spotlighted some of the notable head-to-head numbers:

Murray shined in his quarterfinal triumph against Richard Gasquet. He tallied 11 aces and 62 winners, and won 68 percent of points when coming to net despite playing a veteran opponent with a lot of variety in his arsenal. A similar all-around effort will be necessary Friday.

He admitted facing the event's defending champion is a challenge, but he remains optimistic about the matchup, per BBC Sport.

"Stan is obviously playing great tennis," Murray said. "It is going to be extremely difficult, [but] hopefully I can play my best tennis and reach my first final here."

All told, this match is likely going to feature several twists and turns along the way. Not only are Wawrinka and Murray evenly matched, but they are both playing championship-level tennis, which should make for an entertaining battle.

The end result is probably a five-set marathon where it comes down to which player is better able to hold his serve when the pressure is on. Wawrinka holds the slight edge in that regard based on his prior success in the French Open.

Prediction: Wawrinka in five sets

All match statistics courtesy of the tournament's official site.