French Open 2017: Friday Roland Garros Schedule and Bracket Predictions

Andy Murray must get past 2015 French Open winner Stan Wawrinka to reach the final of this year's competition. Murray and Wawrinka will meet in the first of the men's semi-finals on Friday at Roland Garros, before Rafael Nadal takes on Dominic Thiem, conqueror of Novak Djokovic in the last eight.

For a look at the full schedule details, visit the Roland Garros official website.

Wawrinka and Nadal to Contest the Final

Murray is in his fifth semi-final at Roland Garros, but he's still yet to show his best form on the Paris clay this year. In fact, as BBC Sport's Russell Fuller noted, the Scot hardly made a statement during his quarter-final win over Kei Nishikori:

By contrast, Wawrinka hit his stride earlier in the tournament and is playing at peak form entering the last four. The Swiss player is showcasing a quality all-round game, evidenced by the way he routinely disrupted the powerful serve of Marin Cilic in the quarter-final, per ATP Media Info:

Wawrinka has yet to drop a set at this year's tournament, thanks largely to a wide range of shots that have left opponents baffled.

As a comparison, BBC Sport's Piers Newbery detailed a few of the most common winners Wawrinka has hit at a faster rate than Murray: "The Swiss, 32, has won majors in each of the last three years and has been in scintillating form, hitting as many forehand winners (70) as Murray in three fewer sets, and six more aces at 30."

Wawrinka enjoys life on the Roland Garros clay, while Murray has yet to win this Open. Both history and current form favour Wawrinka, and the Swiss veteran has what it takes to upset the World No. 1 in a tight battle over five sets.

The second semi-final may be tougher to call than the first. Nadal's meeting with Thiem brings together two players who specialise in winning on clay:

Most people probably expected Nadal to reach the final four as part of his quest for a historic 10th French Open win. However, it's Thiem who truly served notice he's ready to win in Paris by the way he dismantled Djokovic in the quarter-final.

The Austrian's three-set win was a testament to the power and range of his backhand and forehand shots. In fact, Rafa's coach, Toni Nadal, highlighted the latter shot as a particularly testing one, per Christopher Clarey of the New York Times: "His best shot I think is his forehand. But the serve is also very good. He can kick it or go for the big one."

Clarey also pinpointed another key feature of Thiem's game that could give Nadal a problem: "He is also deceptively quick, as Djokovic discovered again and again on Wednesday when he hit fine, well-masked drop shots and still lost the points."

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Few players control the pace on clay better than Nadal, and the Spaniard can force Thiem into playing the game he wants.

There is also some merit to the idea Thiem peaked with his win over Djokovic. After all, the victory snapped a five-game losing streak against the Serb. It may be the best Thiem can manage at Roland Garros this year.

Nadal has been efficient and business-like in not losing a single set en route to the semi-final. While the streak will end on Friday, the 31-year-old will still have enough knowhow to prevent Thiem from scoring another huge upset.

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Another win for Nadal will put him on the brink of history, while Wawrinka being the in-form player in Paris will see Murray denied again in the last four at Roland Garros.