Now that's how you hit a backhand. Is it possible that Stan Wawrinka is getting better at age 32? The Swiss will play for his second French Open title in three years after a rousing five-set victory over world No. 1 Andy Murray, 6-7 (6), 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-1.

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He's hitting delightful one-handed backhand winners, taking names and setting records.

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Although Wawrinka’s power dominated Murray for most of the match, he could not sustain leads of 5-3 and 4-2 in the first and third sets. He lost both of those sets, but kept his head to keep battling back. Composure during adversity has helped define his late-career surge.

For most of the match, there were several points that Wawrinka could not put away because of Murray’s sensational retrieving.

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The Scot’s magic improvisation on defense has a way of wearing down his opponents’ resolve, but Wawrinka shrugged it all off.

The turning point might have been when Wawrinka flipped the tables on the kind of crazy rally that Murray usually wins.

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The Swiss’ power gets most of the attention, but his conditioning has been the key to winning three majors. He pounded away on clay with 87 winners to Murray's 36.

Through all 4 hours and 34 minutes, Wawrinka's strength and footwork never wavered.

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His signature backhand left the biggest impression:

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The two sets he lost to Murray are the only ones Wawrinka has dropped in the tournament. Wawrinka has never lost a Grand Slam final.

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