Jannik Sinner Upsets Djokovic To Reach First French Open Final

World number one Sinner held off a record-chasing Djokovic with an impressive 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) victory on Court Philippe Chatrier to reach his maiden Roland Garros final.

“He is the best player in the history of our sport, playing against him here is amazing," said the 23-year-old Sinner. “Of course I try not to think about this, but before coming on court, you feel the tension."

Djokovic displayed his trademark fighting spirit in a dramatic contest that lasted three hours and 16 minutes, but three missed set points late in the third set ultimately dashed his comeback hopes.

The 38-year-old will next attempt to win a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon next month. “Obviously Wimbledon is next, which is my childhood favorite tournament," said the world number six. “I’m going to do everything possible to get myself ready. I guess my best chances maybe are Wimbledon, to win another Slam, or faster hard courts, maybe Australia or something like that."

Alcaraz earlier secured his place in Sunday’s final when opponent Musetti retired with a leg injury in the fourth set of their semi-final.

Sinner, who has yet to drop a set in the tournament, will be hoping to avenge his defeat to Alcaraz in the semi-finals last year, where he lost in five sets.

Alcaraz has won his last four matches against Sinner, including the Italian Open final in May, when Sinner returned from a three-month doping ban. “Sunday is going to be very difficult, I know my head-to-head lately doesn’t look great against Carlos, but let’s see what I can do," added Sinner.

Djokovic’s exit guarantees that a sixth consecutive major title will be claimed by either Sinner or world number two Alcaraz, signaling a potential permanent change in the tennis hierarchy. “This could have been the last match ever I played here, so I don’t know," said Djokovic. “I don’t know really what tomorrow brings at this point in my career. You know, I’m going to keep on keeping on."

Sunday will feature the first Grand Slam final between two men born in the 2000s. Neither Sinner nor Alcaraz has ever lost a major final. It is also the first Grand Slam tournament in which the top two seeds will contest both the men’s and women’s finals since the 2013 US Open, with Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff set to compete for the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen on Saturday.

Djokovic had opportunities, but Sinner consistently proved too strong at crucial moments, including breaking immediately after failing to serve out the second set. The Italian hit 44 winners in total over the grueling three sets, showing excellent resilience to save three set points in the 10th game of the third.

Earlier, world number two Alcaraz was leading 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-0, 2-0 under the Court Philippe Chatrier roof when Italian Musetti retired due to a thigh injury. “It’s never great to go through or win a match when it’s like this," said the 22-year-old. “He’s done an incredible clay season. I wish him all the best, a quick recovery, and that he’ll be back soon."

Alcaraz will aim to win his fifth Grand Slam title in two days’ time. “It’s been three intense weeks, and now I have one step to make," he said. “I’ll give everything on Sunday, I’ve been playing great tennis this tournament."

Musetti saved break points in the first and seventh games before taking a one-set lead with a break in the 10th game. The Spaniard raced through a second-set tiebreak, taking his third set point when Musetti fired an attempted passing shot into the net.

Musetti could not handle the power coming from the other side of the net in the third set and briefly received treatment on his left thigh. Alcaraz went on to dominate the set, with eighth seed Musetti managing only five points, in just 22 minutes.

Musetti surrendered another break early in the fourth set as Alcaraz blasted a forehand return into the corner, prompting Musetti to head to the net to shake his opponent’s hand.

(With AFP Inputs)