During a high-stakes quarterfinal at the French Open, Novak Djokovic won a jaw-dropping 41-shot rally against Alexander Zverev, a pivotal moment that shifted momentum in his favour. The rally came at a crucial juncture in the fourth set, with Djokovic trailing 2-3 and facing a break point. The Serbian dug deep, survived the marathon exchange, and saved the break, forcing deuce and eventually holding serve.
Djokovic, who was already leading two sets to one, capitalised on that momentum and closed out the match with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory. The win puts Djokovic into the semifinals of Roland Garros, where he will face Jannik Sinner of Italy.
Djokovic chasing history
Djokovic is chasing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title and a fourth French Open crown. With this result, the 37-year-old becomes the second-oldest man to reach the French Open semifinals in the Open Era, behind Pancho Gonzales (40, in 1968). He also becomes only the fifth man over 38 to reach a Grand Slam semifinal.
This year has been underwhelming for Djokovic until now, with early exits in major events, but he arrived in Paris after claiming his 100th tour-level title in Geneva. Meanwhile, Alexander Zverev, a three-time Grand Slam finalist, once again falls short of a major title.
Djokovic and Sinner's head to head record
Djokovic and Sinner are locked at 4-4 in their head-to-head, but Sinner has won the last three encounters. However, Djokovic won their only clay court meeting in 2021. Sinner enters the semifinal on a red-hot streak, having won 19 consecutive matches and 26 straight sets in Grand Slam play.
