Novak Djokovic moved one step closer to tennis immortality with a gritty 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 quarterfinal victory over Alexander Zverev at Roland Garros on Wednesday. The 38-year-old Serbian now faces his next challenge: a semifinal showdown with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner as he pursues an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam title.
In a match marked by swirling winds and tactical adjustments, Djokovic demonstrated why he holds a record-extending 51st Grand Slam semifinal appearance. "You have to hit harder on the ball… I was a bit nervous with the pressure," the three-time French Open champion admitted post-match, praising Zverev's competitive spirit.
The victory extends Djokovic's winning streak to nine matches following his recent Geneva Open triumph. His 101st Roland Garros win sets up a high-stakes clash with Sinner, who made history by becoming the first Italian man to reach six major semifinals after defeating Alexander Bublik 6-1, 7-5, 6-0.
Sinner brings his own 19-match Grand Slam winning streak into Friday's semifinal, having claimed the last two hardcourt majors. The matchup promises to test Djokovic's clay-court mastery against the 22-year-old's explosive baseline game, with the winner earning a chance to rewrite tennis history.
