Former junior rivals came face to face at net as Ernests Gulbis wrapped his arm around Novak Djokovic for the pre-match photo. For two sets, that was about as close as Gulbis could get to Djokovic in the bigger picture.
The second-seeded Serbian was a few shots from turning this semifinal into a straight-sets selfie. Then Djokovic got tired, tight, and cranky. Gulbis began cracking his backhand with bold authority in barging right back into the picture by snatching the third set and rallying to level the fourth.
Ultimately, Djokovic refocused right at the finish, winning eight straight points to seal a 6-3, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 victory that was more complicated than the scoreline suggests. Djokovic was sharper on the big points and broke the big server five times in advancing to his 13th career Grand Slam final, and his second in Paris.
The 18th-seeded Gulbis saved two break points in the fifth game, but his forehand failed him as Djokovic broke for 3-2. Gulbis erased two set points serving at 3-5, but netted a routine backhand to face a third. The most electric point of the set followed as Gulbis carved a sharp-angled cross-court backhand—only to see that difficult shot exceeded when Djokovic slid into a backhand he curled around the net post. Without even playing his best tennis, Djokovic was up a set.
Fine-tuning his game, Djokovic reeled off six straight points, holding at love for 4-3 in the second. Gulbis scattered a second serve deep to hand Djokovic a break point. Given that Djokovic had held at love in two of his prior three service games, it felt like a set point. It pretty much was. Soon after Gulbis' backhand sailed long, Djokovic converted his third (real) set point, seizing a two-set lead after just 74 minutes of play.
The sixth game of the third set was a physical test that spanned 10 minutes, featured five deuces, and saw Djokovic deliver four aces, saving a pair of break points to hold for 3-all. Gulbis, who began clutching his lower back during that game, did not call for a trainer. But the Latvian began booming his backhand, broke at 15 for a 5-3 lead, and slammed an ace to take the third set in 46 minutes. Surprisingly, Djokovic, who was squinting into the sun, didn't go to the baseball cap until the next set. Even more surprising the fact he did not find the Gulbis forehand on crucial rallies down the stretch.