Three-time Roland-Garros champion Novak Djokovic overpowered world No. 3 Alexander Zverev, advancing to a record-extending 51st Grand Slam semifinal on Court Philippe-Chatrier in Paris.
Wednesday evening session at Roland-Garros saw world No. 6 Novak Djokovic coming back from one set down to overpower 2024 runner-up Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in three hours and 17 minutes, securing a spot in his 13th semifinal at the tournament, delivering his best tennis this season.
Assessing his performance, he commented: “Especially during the last game, my tactic was just to play drop shots. I played three or four in a row. Maybe you can’t see it on TV, but there is a lot of wind from one side, so it gives the sensation that you must hit twice as hard. It was important to vary the game.”
The 24-time Grand Slam champion will play world No. 1 Jannik Sinner on Friday.
Following his quarterfinal triumph, the top seed became the first Italian man in history to reach six major semifinals.
The Match as It Happened
Last year’s finalist, Zverev, made a perfect start to the quarterfinal showdown, taking the opening set 6-4 in 49 minutes.
Dominant behind his booming serve - his average first serve speed was 200 km/h at that time in the tournament - he broke early and held, building a 2-0 lead.
The third seed would drop just 8 points with his service, winning 94 percent of the points on his first delivery throughout.
The eighth game stood out, featuring an enthralling 16-shot rally, the longest of the set at that moment, in which the players exchanged heavy groundstrokes.
The battle intensified at the net with the 2020 US Open runner-up executing a drop shot that Djokovic neutralized, producing a volley winner to earn the point in style.
However, after fending off a break point, the Hamburg native inched ahead 5-3.
Despite holding to love in his attempt to consolidate a late challenge, the 38-year-old lost his first set at Roland-Garros this season as his adversary surged on top, in control of play.
The Serbian kicked up a level as the second set wore on, converting a break in the fourth game - Zverev hit a backhand long, backing it up with a hold to take a 4-1 lead.
He was made to work by the world number three, who found an edge in the longer rallies while the sixth seed held onto his advantage for the remainder of the set, saving a break point in the fifth game.
Making the most of his all-around game, the Belgrade-born closed out 6-3, ending a dramatic 23-shot rally with a precise drop shot to even the contest at one set apiece in 53 minutes.
In the third set, the 100th tour-level titlist came out on fire in vintage mode. Soon, his vast repertoire was in full display on center court, choosing his shots wisely.
Charging to the net often, he took the 28-year-old out of balance, generating some spectacular volleys en route to converting an instrumental double break in the fifth and seventh games.
He marched to serve out for the set flawlessly, sealing it 6-2 in 35 minutes.
Bidding for a chance to keep his quest for a historic 25th major title alive, the former world number one kicked off the fourth set in relentless fashion, up two sets to one.
He got tested during an intense 30-shot rally, trading powerful groundstrokes, but when Zverev hit a double fault, he found the breathing room he needed to convert a break point on his way to open a 2-0 advantage.
Showcasing world-class tennis, the Paris Olympics gold medalist excelled on the return, covering all angles to seize his chances while disrupting the 24-time ATP titlist’s rhythm.
The only player to reach the semifinals in all four past French Open editions failed to find solutions, misfiring in their aggressive cross-court battles on the Parisian red clay.
For his part, Djokovic sent the crowd into a frenzy, receiving an standing ovation after winning a 41-shot exchange, fending off a break point to hold 4-2.
Moreover, he showed there was plenty of gas in the tank to push forward at age 38.
Meanwhile, Zverev stayed sharp on serve, adding pressure with his rock-solid backhand and blistering forehand.
After a grueling 10th game, which translated the German player’s incredible resilience and passion for the sport, Serbia’s top racquet served out 6-4.
Furthermore, he rounded up a stellar turnaround in four sets on Wednesday night in the City of Lights, winning 76 percent of the points on his first serve.
In addition, he hit 42 winners against 29 unforced errors, compared to Zverev’s 38 and 44, respectively.
Throughout his campaign in Paris, Djokovic has defeated Mackenzie McDonald 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, Frenchman Corentin Moutet 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(1), Austrian qualifier Filip Misolic 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, and resurgent Briton Cameron Norrie 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, claiming his 100th win at the tournament.
On a further note, Sinner, who is aiming to achieve his fourth Grand Slam crown, secured his place in the final four by ousting world No. 62 Alexander Bublik 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 in one hour and 48 minutes.
“I am very happy and happy with how I arrived in the semifinals,” he said in his on-court interview.
“Semifinals in Grand Slams are very special, so I am looking forward to it.”
The three-time Roland-Garros champion and the 23-year-old are tied in their series 4-4.
The other semifinal will feature defending champion Carlos Alcaraz against world No. 7 Lorenzo Musetti, their third clash this spring, after the Monte-Carlo final and the semifinals in Rome, both won by the Spaniard.
