Majestic Sinner dispatches Djokovic to reach maiden Roland-Garros final
The world No 1 came through a remarkably high-quality contest 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (3) to knock Djokovic out and move into his first Roland-Garros final
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic, Roland-Garros 2025 | © Dante Badano / PSNewz
Jannik Sinner produced a performance of breathtaking quality to overcome Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (3) and reach his maiden Roland-Garros final. He will meet world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz in what will be a seismic showpiece match.
In a captivating inter-generational clash between two giants of the sport, it was the 23-year-old world No 1 whose relentless attacking talents of the highest order won out against the 38-year-old with arguably the most iron-clad defence in tennis history.
Sinner is through to his fourth Grand Slam final, while Djokovic fell short in what was his 51st major semi-final. But it took a mammoth effort from the Italian to dislodge a player who has proven over the past fortnight that a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam singles title is still very much within his reach.
Rafael Nadal in 2022 was the last man to defeat Djokovic at Roland-Garros, with the Serb taking the title in 2023 and pulling out injured ahead of his quarter-final last year. Including his stunning Olympic gold last summer, Djokovic was on a 22-match winning streak on the courts of Stade Roland-Garros.
But Sinner is an altogether different challenge. Quite remarkably, the Italian hadn’t lost serve against Djokovic in their previous two meetings. While the Serb put an end to that particular unenviable statistic this evening, he was unable to halt the progress of an opponent in simply imperious form.
Sinner now leads the pair’s head-to-head record for the first time, having won all of their four previous encounters including today’s semi-final.
sinner the stronger in match of superb quality
The early exchanges were fascinating. Djokovic showed signs he was able to stay with Sinner in the extended rallies and trade forehand blows with the world No 1. But the Serb largely kept with the tactics he deployed against Alexander Zverev, utilising slice and drop shots to disrupt the younger man’s rhythm and negate Sinner’s ferocious power from the baseline.
The first break point of the contest came in the fifth game, with the Italian converting before a hold to love nudged him into a 4-2 lead.
With that loss of serve, Djokovic’s form momentarily dipped as unforced errors began to leak from his racquet. Nevertheless, he was able to fend off two break points in a perilous seventh game to remain in contention.
But it was ultimately in vain. Djokovic remained unable to crack Sinner’s serve as the Italian closed out a clinical opening set three games later.
The quality ramped up from both players in the second set, with the 24-time Grand Slam champion winning a stunning rally in the second game before saving a pair of break points in the fifth.
Sinner’s relentless return pressure did eventually puncture Djokovic’s defence as the Italian broke through in the seventh game. But when serving for the set at 5-4, Djokovic finally generated his first break points of the match, converting the second to extend the set and earn a break of Sinner’s serve that had eluded him for their past two matches.
But such a significant breakthrough was immediately undone as the unrelenting Sinner broke straight back in the eleventh game before serving out for a commanding two-set lead.
Djokovic got a look at another rare break point opportunity in the fourth game of the third set, the reward of encouraging inroads into Sinner’s service games, only for the door to be repeatedly slammed shut by blistering, pinpoint-precision serving from his opponent.
The same was true in the tenth game of the set, as Sinner found himself two set and break points down with Djokovic looking to pounce and the Parisian crowd sensing a breakthrough for the Serb. But again Sinner held firm to send the final set to a deserved tiebreak.
And it was the Italian who rose to the moment, playing yet more clinical, ruthless tennis to clinch the breaker and complete one of the biggest wins of his stellar young career before paying tribute to arguably the greatest player to have ever graced the sport.
“It was such a special occasion for me playing against Novak in a semi-final of a Grand Slam,” Sinner told the crowd in his on-court interview.
“It was so amazing, I had to step up and play the best tennis I could. It shows again what a role model for all of us, especially for young players.
“What he is doing is incredible. I wish him only the best for the rest of the season. We are so lucky to see him play high-level tennis. He achieved so many things. He is the best player in the history of our sport. Playing against him here is amazing.
“Of course, I tried not to think about this, but before you’re on court you feel the tension. I tried to prepare myself in the best possible way.
“I am very happy with how I did that today.”
a seminal roland-garros final lies ahead, as alcaraz awaits
Sinner came through the inter-generational battle against his elder statesmen today, but will face a player who is almost certain to be become the most significant opponent of his career when he meets Alcaraz in a truly monumental final.
Alcaraz and Sinner have won all seven of the combined Grand Slam finals they’ve played in. On Sunday, something has to give as the world’s two finest tennis talents meet for the twelfth time in their enthralling early rivalry.
This year’s showpiece now has a seminal feel to it. It will be the pair’s first encounter in a Grand Slam final – the first of what will surely be many more they contend in a rivalry that will define this sport for a generation.
