Djokovic Advances to French Open Semifinals After Zverev Victory

PARIS: In a captivating late-night match at Court Philippe Chatrier on Wednesday, Novak Djokovic showcased resilience, overcoming a first-set deficit to defeat Alexander Zverev with scores of 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4. This triumph secures Djokovic’s spot in the French Open semi-finals.

The Serbian champion celebrated his 101st victory at Roland Garros, sustaining his bid for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title.

Zverev commenced the match with considerable force, securing an early break and clinching the opening set. This marked the first instance of Djokovic dropping a set in this year’s French Open.

Djokovic responded convincingly, seizing control of the second set after establishing a 4-1 advantage. The third set mirrored the second, with the 24-time Grand Slam winner capturing four consecutive games to overturn a 2-2 tie.

The fourth set saw a determined Zverev applying pressure, reaching 5-4, but Djokovic ultimately sealed the match with a composed performance.

Reflecting on the encounter, Djokovic noted the challenging wind conditions, stating that it felt like competing against an additional opponent.

Djokovic’s Post-Match Thoughts

“Particularly on the side where I played the last game, the wind seemed to intensify,” Djokovic commented. “It felt almost like facing two adversaries. The ball doesn’t seem to travel as expected. It’s not always apparent on TV, but it’s palpable on the court.”

“I adjusted my strategy, sensing difficulty in overpowering him directly. I attempted to draw him to the net, taking risks with drop shots and serve-and-volley tactics. It became a necessity.”

Djokovic is now set to compete against world number one Jannik Sinner on Friday, following Sinner’s victory over Alexander Bublik with a score of 6-1, 7-5, 6-0.