Sinner and Djokovic to Face Off in Roland Garros Semifinal

Roland Garros will host the much-anticipated semifinal this Friday, featuring a clash between two generations: the one that still recalls the legendary Rafael Nadal and the one pushing forward with young tennis talents. On one side, the formidable Jannik Sinner, who hasn't lost a set in his five matches so far; on the other, Novak Djokovic, who continues to defy time as he reaches his thirteenth semifinal at the Parisian tournament, the ultimate clay court venue.

The Serbian, unfazed by the passage of time, defeated favourite Alexander Zverev late Wednesday night in Paris (4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4). The thrilling match at Philippe Chatrier did not disappoint, as Zverev and Djokovic battled for nearly three and a half hours. Djokovic, from Belgrade, made the difference with his drop shots, executing 35 to shorten points, counter the German's physical advantage, and challenge him in one of his least comfortable scenarios: running forward.

Despite Zverev, who last year was a set away from winning his first Grand Slam until Carlos Alcaraz stopped him, experiencing yet another career disappointment against a 'Big Three' member, Djokovic, seemingly exhausted at 38, overcame the loss of the initial set and offered few chances in the next three. Beyond some brief moments at the start of the second and midway through the fourth, the Serbian excelled in crucial moments and remained composed even when he lost the first four match points.

Zverev defended as best he could, preventing Djokovic from sealing victory in his first four opportunities, despite appearing desperate, attempting drop shots almost aimlessly, and approaching the net with more courage than strategy. However, the umpteenth drop shot proved effective, Zverev faltered, and the German will have to continue waiting for the major title of his career.

Djokovic, a three-time winner here with 101 victories in the tournament, now faces the toughest challenge: defeating Sinner in the semifinals and possibly Alcaraz in the final next Sunday to claim his twenty-fifth Grand Slam. It seems like a daunting task for a man who turned 38 two weeks ago, but nothing is impossible for the greatest tennis player in history.

This Friday, Sinner awaits, having ended the men's tournament surprise by demolishing Alexander Bublik 6-1, 7-5, 6-0. The Italian returns to this stage for the second consecutive year, more prepared than ever, having not lost a single set throughout the tournament. Additionally, he boasts 19 consecutive Grand Slam victories after winning the US Open and the Australian Open.

The Italian will be the favourite, and the records support this. Although the head-to-head is tied at four, Sinner has won the last three encounters, in the 2023 Davis Cup, 2024 Australian Open, and 2024 Shanghai Masters 1000. Interestingly, of the eight encounters, only one was on clay, the oldest of all, in 2021 in Monte Carlo.