Novak Djokovic Says He May Have Played His ‘Farewell Match' At Roland Garros
Serbia's Novak Djokovic cheers the spectators after losing his men's singles semi-final match ... More against Italy's Jannik Sinner on day 13 of the French Open tennis tournament on Court Philippe-Chatrier at the Roland-Garros Complex in Paris on June 6, 2025. (Photo by Thibaud MORITZ / AFP) (Photo by THIBAUD MORITZ/AFP via Getty Images)
Father Time is undefeated and, like it or not, he is coming for 38-year-old Novak Djokovic.
After the Serb suffered a straight-sets loss to world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the French Open semifinals, Djokovic was emotional leaving the court and they said it may have been his 'farewell match' at Roland Garros.
'This could have been the last match, ever, I played here,' Djokovic said in a news conference. 'That's why I was a bit more emotional in the end. But if this was the farewell match of the Roland-Garros for me and my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd.'
Djokovic was seeking a record 25th Grand Slam title, but instead lost in straight sets in a Slam semifinal for the first time since 2010 (Tomas Berdych).
He figures to remain a threat at Wimbledon, which he has won seven times and begins June 30.
'He walked off the court like we're not sure if he's going to be back,' John McEnroe said on TNT. 'Maybe he's not sure if he's going to be back.'
'He's the GOAT but will he be willing to accept that he can't really beat these guys anymore?'
Sinner now holds a 5-4 career edge on Djokovic, while Djokovic leads Carlos Alcaraz 5-3.
Those two 20-somethings will meet in Sunday's final and will make it six straight majors won between them.
Asked about possibly ending Djokovic's career in Paris, Sinner said, 'Well, first of all, we hope that that's not the case because I feel like tennis needs him. But if that's the case, I'm happy to be part of this because it's part of history also. But let's hope that that's not the case. He said maybe so you never know."
Djokovic's three leading rivals – Roger Federer (20 Slams), Rafael Nadal (22) and Andy Murray (3) – have all retired and Roland Garros honored Nadal at the start of the tournament by permanently adding his footprint to the Philippe Chatrier court. The Spaniard won 14 of his 22 major titles at Roland Garros.
PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 25: Rafael Nadal poses for a photo with Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy ... More Murray on Court Philippe-Chatrier during a ceremony held in his honour on Day One of the 2025 French Open at Roland Garros on May 25, 2025 in Paris, France. (Photo by)
As he forged a career worthy of GOAT status in men's tennis, Djokovic has long called Nadal his biggest rival.
'For me, it's been very difficult to stay motivated to compete after his retirement,' Djokovic said on the eve of the tournament, per Puntodebreak.com. "Honestly, I didn't think it would affect me this way, but I feel like a part of me has gone with him, and it's been a huge challenge for me to regain the joy on the court and the strength to continue competing.
"When Rafa left tennis, I felt something I'd never experienced before. I thought, 'What do I do now?' On the court, I've felt discouraged, but luckily, I've found other things that inspire me to continue, and after six months, I can say that I feel much better.'
Going forward, it remains to be seen how much longer Djokovic keeps playing.
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New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Sinner's still here!
Alcaraz, 22, fought from two sets down and saved three championship points to defend his Roland Garros crown in a magnificent six-hour Paris thriller Getty Images Carlos Alcaraz produced a comeback for the ages to defeat Jannik Sinner and take the 2025 French Open final in a six-hour instant classic in Paris. Alcaraz, 22, defended his title by coming back from two sets down and saving three championship points to win 4-6, 6-7(4), 6-4, 7-6(3), 7-6(2). The Spaniard was broken twice as the world No. 1 and slight favorite Sinner started strongly on Court Philippe-Chatrier, and Alcaraz went two sets behind after being edged out of the second-set tiebreak at sunny Roland Garros. Alcaraz won three breaks in the third set and won a dramatic tiebreak to level the match before he went 7-0 up in the championship breaker with some celestial tennis and sealed his triumph with a laser forehand. GO FURTHER Carlos Alcaraz beats Jannik Sinner to win French Open in tennis classic Connections: Sports Edition Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-7(3), 1-2* Alcaraz Sinner 15-0, and the umpire confirms Sinner's ball is out, just. 15-all. Sinner serve called out, Alcaraz overrules and calls it in. These two gents, honestly. Ooh, Alcaraz return long, and this is game point to the world No. 1, the top seed, the pre-match favorite. The mid-match favorite! Another return long and Sinner is on the board. He's not going anywhere. Getty Images Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-7(3), *0-2 Alcaraz Sinner rather limped to his chair between games, and trudged wearily across court to receive serve from Carlos Alcaraz. Is his body failing him? 30-0 Alcaraz. Sinner into the net, slides for the volley, 30-15. A guttural roar from Alcaraz, deep from his diaphragm, bursts out of his mouth as he levers away a winner for 40-15 and game point. Sinner long, Alcaraz nods curtly to his box, who nod back. Jannik Sinner has never won a match more than three hours and 50 minutes. Carlos Alcaraz has never come from two sets down. One of those pillars will fall, alongside the perfect Grand Slam final record that both players currently hold. Getty Images Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-7(3), 0-1* Alcaraz Goodness me, Carlos Alcaraz is pumped up. He wins the first two points of the fifth and final set here on Chatrier, on Jannik Sinner's serve no less, and the crowd love it. Gasps as Alcaraz mishits one, bottom of the net, 15-30. Next point is massive. And it goes to Carlos, double break point! One saved by Sinner for 30-40... First serve out. Second serve, into a rally, one end to another, nearly four and a half hours on the clock, Alcaraz finally changes the rhythm, fearlessly, with a drop shot. And Sinner misses! Break! What a match. What a sport. Here we go. Getty Images Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-7(3) Alcaraz ALCARAZ TAKES THE SET! MY WORD, WHAT A TENNIS MATCH! Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-6(*3-6) Alcaraz Alcaraz high, Sinner smash, 4-3. What a treat this match has been. But Sinner duffs a second-serve return miles long for 5-3! And, pressure mounting on the tall Italian's shoulders, Sinner goes long! Alcaraz points at the ball mark, and it's out! He has three set points to take this into a deciding fifth set. Sinner won't feel secure even with a decent lead in a tiebreak. He led Alcaraz 3-0 in the deciding tiebreak of the China Open final last fall. Alcaraz went stratospheric and won seven points in a row to win the title. Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-6(*2-4) Alcaraz Ace from Alcaraz! Close, but Sinner says it's good. Another serve, called out, but it's good as both players and the umpire inspect it! 2-0 down, 3-2 up for Alcaraz. Still on serve though. That nuclear forehand sparked the momentum shift of this tiebreak on Chatrier. And Sinner goes wide! Four points in a row! Getty Images Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-6(2-1*) Alcaraz Alcaraz slams it into the net and mutters darkly and uncharitably. Sinner takes the serve after the narrowest of mini-breaks. Uh oh, Alcaraz long, Sinner 2-0 up and with the serve. Big next point. You absolute dancer, Carlos. He pings a forehand winner for 2-1 and takes the serve back. It is funny that re my earlier post that Sinner had lost all six of his matches longer than three hours 50 minutes, he got broken serving for the match as the clock ticked over that mark. Is three hours, 50 minutes for Sinner like midnight for Cinderella? Sinner struggling late in the day? Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-6* Alcaraz 40-15 to Jannik Sinner, world No. 1, but his feet are caked in quicksand as he can only watch Alcaraz grip it and rip it past him for a flaming forehand winner, easily more than 100 miles an hour on that. 40-30, but Sinner holds. Tiebreak. Remember, Sinner won the breaker in the second... Sinner has chosen a terrible time to play his worst tennis of the afternoon. Getty Images Sinner 6-4, 7-6(4), 4-6, 5-6* Alcaraz Almost disappointment, a stunned hush, greets Sinner going 15-0 up. Then Alcaraz predicts which way he will smash but can only bat it into the tramlines. Good effort, nonetheless. But he's 30-0 down and a tiebreak beckons. Or does it? Sinner bullets one into the net, 30-15. Poor. Can Sinner lose this set and win the match? If he does it'll be one of the most amazing resets in the history of the sport. Now that is a wild stat from our very own Matt Futterman . Momentum = swung. Getty Images Alcaraz has won 13 out of 14 points since being down triple-match point.
San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
After a flawless fortnight in Paris, Sinner's eye-catching run at French Open ends in heartbreak
PARIS (AP) — After a flawless fortnight in Paris, Jannik Sinner was on the brink of capturing his first French Open title on Sunday after a dominant run on the clay courts of Roland-Garros. Facing defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, the top-ranked Italian was firmly in control. Sinner's deep groundstrokes, excellent service, heavy top spin, and subtle variations had worn down Alcaraz, who found himself 5-3 down and trailing 0-40 in the fourth set, and facing three match points. At that moment, it felt like the best of all possible worlds for the 23-year-old Sinner. But then the momentum swung. Alcaraz fought back, saved the first match point when Sinner sent a forehand long. On the second, Sinner missed a return. The third ended with Alcaraz winning a short baseline exchange. Sinner had just let his chance slip away. From there, Alcaraz produced one of the greatest comeback in Roland-Garros history to win the longest final ever played on the Parisian dirt — 5 hours and 29 minutes — 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (10-2). 'It's an amazing trophy, so I won't sleep tonight very well, but it's okay,' Sinner said during the trophy ceremony. Exciting rivalry There is hardly anything between the two best players in tennis at the moment, who have now combined to win the last six Grand Slam titles and appear poised to build one of the sport's most compelling rivalries in the years ahead. Sunday's duel delivered a match of rare intensity, filled with punishing baseline rallies, exquisite drop shots, and brilliant passing shots — thrilling a packed Court Philippe-Chatrier. 'This one hurts' 'Obviously, this one hurts,' he said. 'There's not so much to say right now. But again, I'm happy with how we're trying to improve every day and put myself in these kinds of positions. It was a very high-level match, that's for sure. I'm happy to be part of it. But yeah, the final result hurts.' It was a particularly tough ending for Sinner, who had not dropped a set on his way to the final, including a dominant semifinal win over three-time French Open champion Novak Djokovic. Before facing Alcaraz, Sinner had never lost a Grand Slam final, winning his first three. A victory would have made him just the fifth man in the Open Era to win three consecutive major titles. 'I'm pretty sure you are going to be a champion, not once but many, many times,' Alcaraz told him during the trophy ceremony. 'It is a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament, making history with you.' 'Now it's my time to take something from the close people I have,' he said. 'As I've always said, before my career started, I never would've imagined finding myself in this position. It wasn't even a dream because it felt so far away — I wasn't even thinking about it. Now I find myself here, playing the longest final in the history of Roland-Garros. It hurts, yes, but on the other hand, you can't go on crying.' ___
Yahoo
3 hours ago
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