Sinner stuns Djokovic to reach first Roland-Garros final
With the win, Sinner stretched his Grand Slam winning streak to 20 matches and his set tally to 29, advancing to his third consecutive major final after triumphs at the US Open and Australian Open. The 23-year-old Italian also became the first player born in the 2000s to reach the Roland-Garros final.
Sinner now sets up a mouth-watering title clash on Sunday against Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, marking the first men's Grand Slam final between two players born in the 2000s.
The semifinal showcased a riveting battle between generations – the current standard-bearer in men's tennis versus the all-time Grand Slam leader. Djokovic, 38, was aiming to break new ground yet again, but despite moments of brilliance, he found himself outgunned by Sinner's ferocity and precision.
From the onset, Sinner asserted control with aggressive baseline play and broke Djokovic early in the first set to take a 3-2 lead, sealing it 6-4. Djokovic, who had received treatment earlier in the tournament for a knee issue, fought valiantly and thrilled the spectators with vintage shotmaking, including a dazzling exchange in the second set that drew roars from Court Philippe-Chatrier.
However, even when Djokovic broke back at 5-5 in the second set, Sinner responded with relentless pressure, reclaiming the momentum with a forehand drive volley and a second-serve ace to clinch the set 7-5.
The third set turned into a dogfight, with Djokovic saving break points and holding three set points at 5-4. But Sinner, unshaken, saved them all and dominated the deciding tiebreak 7-3 to close out the match in just over three hours.
Speaking after the match, Sinner hailed Djokovic as a "role model" and admitted the enormity of the occasion: "It was a special occasion for me, in a semifinal of a Grand Slam against Novak. I had to step up, I had to play the best tennis I could."
Djokovic, who has won 24 Grand Slam titles since 2008, including three at Roland-Garros, showed flashes of his enduring brilliance but was ultimately overpowered by the speed and shot-making of a younger rival whose rise now seems unstoppable.
With this victory, Sinner joins the elite company of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Murray as one of the few men this century to reach three successive Grand Slam finals.
The men's final on Sunday promises to be a generational clash between Sinner and Alcaraz, with the Italian seeking to avenge recent defeats and secure a second consecutive major title.
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