He reeled in Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He saw off Andy Murray, then destroyed the next generation. He has just about kept pace with Carlos Alcaraz but Novak Djokovic has met his match at last. Jannik Sinner is too good.
In this French Open semi-final clash between the best in the world and the best of all time, the 23-year-old Sinner won 6-4, 7-5, 7-6. He will face his great rival Carlos Alcaraz, who won via retirement against Lorenzo Musetti, in a Grand Slam final for the first time.
Djokovic stopped to thank the crowd before leaving the court, admitting he may never return to Roland Garros.
‘This could have been the last match ever I played here, I don’t know,’ said the 38-year-old. ‘That’s why I was a bit more emotional at the end.
‘If this was the farewell match of Roland Garros in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd.
‘Do I wish to play more? Yes, I do. Will I be able to play in 12 months’ time here again? I don’t know.’
Jannik Sinner celebrates after beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 in French Open semi-final
Djokovic has now lost four in a row to the Italian as he remains on 24 Grand Slam titles
Sinner will face his great rival Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday’s final at Roland Garros
By God how Djokovic fought. It was exhilarating and deeply moving to see him use every tool in his arsenal, every ounce of his experience.
To feel his stubborn refusal to bow before time and sporting logic. To hear this man – once so unpopular for breaking up the Rafa/Roger party – being roared on by 15,000 spectators.
‘It was incredible,’ said Djokovic. ‘I don’t think I ever received this much support in this stadium in big matches against the best players in the world.
‘The crowd were terrific in the moments when it seemed like it was all going his way. They would lift me up and encourage me, give me strength to keep going and fight to the last ball, which I did.’
The match reached an emotional crescendo as Sinner served to stay in the third set at 4-5. The French crowd were on the younger man’s back, screaming ‘Double fault,’ after he missed a first serve.
Djokovic earned three set points and on the third went for a big forehand, missing wide. It was a low margin shot, not a shot Djokovic would have taken on against most people, or five years ago.
‘That’s what these guys, Sinner and Alcaraz, present on the court,’ he said. ‘They put pressure constantly so when opportunities are presented it makes you a little more anxious and you want to go for the shot.’
Sinner is into his first French Open final without dropping a set. He has destroyed all comers this fortnight. That this was by far his toughest test, that he looked rattled at times, is to Djokovic’s enormous credit: ‘It’s amazing to see the kind of level he produces, the physical shape he’s in,’ said Sinner. ‘That was a very, very tough match.’
But it is four wins in a row now for Sinner and it is difficult to see Djokovic beating him again. How’s this for a measure of dominance: when Djokovic went 15-40 up on the Sinner serve at the end of the second set, those were the first break points he had earned against the Italian since the 2023 Davis Cup final – in two matches and seven sets since then, the greatest returner of all time had not a sniff.
Sinner is just a better, younger version of Djokovic himself, the next stage in the evolution of the perfect tennis player. He has the same loose-limbed, rapier groundstrokes, the same relentless consistency. He just does everything faster; hits everything harder.
One day, if Sinner is good enough, and lucky enough, to play on as long as Djokovic, someone will emerge who makes him feel powerless, who makes him feel old.
But for now, the world is his – his to share with Alcaraz, at least. The Spanish No2 seed had earlier come through what had the makings of a classic match before a tweak of Musetti’s hamstring. The Italian No 8 seed retired trailing 4-6, 7-6, 6-0, 2-0.
In today’s women’s final, Aryna Sabalenka will take on Coco Gauff, meaning the top two seeds will contest both women’s and men’s finals for the first time at a Grand Slam since the 2013 US Open, when Serena Williams beat Victoria Azarenka and Rafael Nadal beat Novak Djokovic – remember him?
