
Aussie Olympic hero announces ‘super exciting' family news
Australia's NBA champion and Olympic 'rose gold' hero Patty Mills and wife Alyssa have announced they are expecting their first child together.
The pair have been together since 2009 when both on the basketball teams at Saint Mary's College of California.
But relationship milestones took a back seat to their careers with their wedding only taking place in 2019.
The pregnancy announcement included a gender reveal, with the couple looking forward to sharing Mills' Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage with their daughter.
' We were living in Utah at the time up in Park City, and we found out together,' Alyssa told Sports Illustrated.
'We took a test and it was positive. Both of us knew that it was gonna be positive ... I was super excited, but still shocked.
'I knew it was gonna be positive, but I think I was still just shocked because I was so happy.' Alyssa and Patty Mills in Melbourne ahead of the Paris Olympics last year. Credit: Getty
Mills, 36, was traded by the Utah Jazz to the Los Angeles Clippers soon afterwards.
'We have been together for so long and we've grown as a couple and we truly are each other's best friends, so doing this with him is really exciting for me,' Alyssa, 34, said.
'I already feel like we're gonna be the best parents because we have fun together, but I just feel like we know who we are, both Patty and I, and so raising our daughter will be super fun for us.
'Our values are so instilled in us that it (will) just be easy to bring her up with the same values.'
The pregnancy comes with Mills, who has a permanent home with Alyssa in Hawaii, weighing up his next move in basketball.
He is now a free agent and, after suiting up for four different NBA teams in the past two years, has been linked with a return home to Australia to play in the NBL.
Mills last featured in the league for the Melbourne Tigers in 2011 during the NBA lockout.
But an NBA future is not out of the question, still having considerable pull as a locker-room figure for younger players.
Mills won an NBA championship with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014.
He led the Australian Boomers to a breakthrough international medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, scoring 42 points in the medal game and celebrating bronze as 'rose gold'.
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West Australian
2 hours ago
- West Australian
Eddie McGuire: Tasmania warned to build Hobart stadium or new AFL team could go elsewhere
Former Collingwood Football Club president Eddie McGuire has a blunt message for Tasmania: if you don't want a team in the Australian Football League, the competition has other options. As the Tasmanian parliament debates whether to bring down its Liberal government, potentially ending prospects of the Devils becoming the league's 19th team, Mr McGuire slammed critics of plans to build a football stadium in Hobart for the team. 'What Tasmania doesn't need is every week to have an advertisement that they are a second-rate state,' he told The Nightly. 'I think Tasmania deserves to be finally seen for the great state that it is.' Even though the government and Labor opposition support building the stadium, Tasmania faces a $1 billion budget deficit next financial year. The deficit has added to pressure to cancel the project, which the AFL has made a condition of allowing the team into the competition in 2028. The parliament is expected to vote on Thursday afternoon to dismiss Premier Jeremy Rockliff. It is not clear if Labor leader Dean Winter has enough votes to take over, and the acting governor may call an election, which would likely be fought over the $945 million stadium, which critics say the state cannot afford. 'An election would certainly put the full formation of the team and the issuance of a licence at risk,' Tasmania Devils chief executive Brendon Gale said. Mr McGuire, one of the AFL leaders who approved the expansion, said the island state's existing football ovals were 'fourth rate' and would not attract enough spectators, including Victorians who would want to fly to Hobart to see their teams play. 'You want to be careful 18 club presidents don't sit down and say 'we will be be $400 million better off' without the team,' he said. 'There is a fair bit of investment from the AFL. It will probably cost $30 million a year. If you start saying no and it becomes too much of a pain in the neck, people may say: 'We could have a third team in Perth, or one of the central coast of NSW, or Darwin or Alice Springs. We need to get on it with or go to plan B.' 'The whole philosophy of this exercise was to take it to world-class level rather than having a game of footy in the wind and rain. The teams need to look like Collingwood at the MCG, Adelaide at Adelaide Oval or Brisbane at the new Olympic stadium.' The Liberal Party won an election in Tasmania 16 months ago, but defections have left it without a majority in parliament. Most MPs have indicated they plan to vote against a 'confidence' motion in the government today, a step that requires the premier or resign or seek a new election. It will be up to Lieutenant Governor Christopher Shanahan, the state's top judge, to decide whether to grant the request. Both sides traded barbs on Thursday morning. 'This has been a selfish grab for power,' Mr Rockliff said. Mr Winter, the Labor leader, said: We are going to an election because the Liberals have broken the budget and want to sell off Tasmania's assets.' Complicating the situation, Parliament has not passed a budget for next year, which means there is no legal provision to pay public servants from July 1.


The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
By George, trading places sets up NBA Finals intrigue
The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. The Indiana Pacers haven't been to the Finals since 2000. Neither has ever won an NBA title, but one will hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2025. The final step there begins Thursday night (Friday morning AEST) when the teams square off in Game 1 in Oklahoma City. "I haven't really wrapped my head around the fact that I'm in the Finals," Thunder third-year star Jalen Williams said. "It's definitely a blessing that we're here and I try not to get too caught up in it because we still have a job to do." The teams are tied together through Paul George. The Pacers' and Thunder's trades of George helped chart their path to these Finals. First, in July 2017, Indiana traded George to Oklahoma City for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. In February 2022, the Pacers traded Sabonis as part of a package that brought them Tyrese Haliburton - a cornerstone piece to this run. Oklahoma City's haul from their own George trade has been even more impactful to their current roster. After two All-Star seasons with the Thunder, George asked to be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Oklahoma City acquired not only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this season's NBA leading scorer and Most Valuable Player, but also the draft pick that was used to select Williams. Gilgeous-Alexander has turned into the Thunder's biggest offensive weapon - he is averaging 31.6 points in Oklahoma City's 12 play-off wins - but also their overall tone-setter. "Just has an 'I'm-gonna-get-it-done' mentality," Williams said. "I think it's rubbed off on the rest of the team." While the Thunder have seemingly been destined to reach the Finals, going 68-14 in the regular season to win the Western Conference going away, Indiana's path has been much less straightforward. The Pacers were under .500 as late as early January, before turning things around and finishing as the No.4 seeds in the Eastern Conference. "We started rocky but we just stayed steady and kept being ourselves and we just kept getting better," Indiana's Pascal Siakam said. In the play-offs, though, Indiana have been plenty dominant, beating the Bucks in five games, top-seeds Cleveland in five games, and the Knicks in six to advance to their first Finals since Reggie Miller starred for the franchise. The Thunder swept the two meetings during the regular season, the most recent a 132-111 victory in Oklahoma City on March 29. Much like they did in the regular season, the Thunder's defence has set the tone. Oklahoma City's 104.7 defensive rating - points allowed per 100 possessions - is tops in the NBA during the play-offs. The Pacers have shown plenty of offensive firepower, with a 117.7 offensive rating in 16 play-off games - behind only Cleveland's 122.6 and ahead of Oklahoma City's 115.9. "There's no shortcuts to beating this team," Haliburton said of the Thunder. Indiana had an adventurous trip to Oklahoma City. The Pacers' plane had to stop in Tulsa, Oklahoma, because of storms in the Oklahoma City area, though it finally was able to land on Tuesday night. The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. The Indiana Pacers haven't been to the Finals since 2000. Neither has ever won an NBA title, but one will hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2025. The final step there begins Thursday night (Friday morning AEST) when the teams square off in Game 1 in Oklahoma City. "I haven't really wrapped my head around the fact that I'm in the Finals," Thunder third-year star Jalen Williams said. "It's definitely a blessing that we're here and I try not to get too caught up in it because we still have a job to do." The teams are tied together through Paul George. The Pacers' and Thunder's trades of George helped chart their path to these Finals. First, in July 2017, Indiana traded George to Oklahoma City for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. In February 2022, the Pacers traded Sabonis as part of a package that brought them Tyrese Haliburton - a cornerstone piece to this run. Oklahoma City's haul from their own George trade has been even more impactful to their current roster. After two All-Star seasons with the Thunder, George asked to be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Oklahoma City acquired not only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this season's NBA leading scorer and Most Valuable Player, but also the draft pick that was used to select Williams. Gilgeous-Alexander has turned into the Thunder's biggest offensive weapon - he is averaging 31.6 points in Oklahoma City's 12 play-off wins - but also their overall tone-setter. "Just has an 'I'm-gonna-get-it-done' mentality," Williams said. "I think it's rubbed off on the rest of the team." While the Thunder have seemingly been destined to reach the Finals, going 68-14 in the regular season to win the Western Conference going away, Indiana's path has been much less straightforward. The Pacers were under .500 as late as early January, before turning things around and finishing as the No.4 seeds in the Eastern Conference. "We started rocky but we just stayed steady and kept being ourselves and we just kept getting better," Indiana's Pascal Siakam said. In the play-offs, though, Indiana have been plenty dominant, beating the Bucks in five games, top-seeds Cleveland in five games, and the Knicks in six to advance to their first Finals since Reggie Miller starred for the franchise. The Thunder swept the two meetings during the regular season, the most recent a 132-111 victory in Oklahoma City on March 29. Much like they did in the regular season, the Thunder's defence has set the tone. Oklahoma City's 104.7 defensive rating - points allowed per 100 possessions - is tops in the NBA during the play-offs. The Pacers have shown plenty of offensive firepower, with a 117.7 offensive rating in 16 play-off games - behind only Cleveland's 122.6 and ahead of Oklahoma City's 115.9. "There's no shortcuts to beating this team," Haliburton said of the Thunder. Indiana had an adventurous trip to Oklahoma City. The Pacers' plane had to stop in Tulsa, Oklahoma, because of storms in the Oklahoma City area, though it finally was able to land on Tuesday night. The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. The Indiana Pacers haven't been to the Finals since 2000. Neither has ever won an NBA title, but one will hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2025. The final step there begins Thursday night (Friday morning AEST) when the teams square off in Game 1 in Oklahoma City. "I haven't really wrapped my head around the fact that I'm in the Finals," Thunder third-year star Jalen Williams said. "It's definitely a blessing that we're here and I try not to get too caught up in it because we still have a job to do." The teams are tied together through Paul George. The Pacers' and Thunder's trades of George helped chart their path to these Finals. First, in July 2017, Indiana traded George to Oklahoma City for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. In February 2022, the Pacers traded Sabonis as part of a package that brought them Tyrese Haliburton - a cornerstone piece to this run. Oklahoma City's haul from their own George trade has been even more impactful to their current roster. After two All-Star seasons with the Thunder, George asked to be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Oklahoma City acquired not only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this season's NBA leading scorer and Most Valuable Player, but also the draft pick that was used to select Williams. Gilgeous-Alexander has turned into the Thunder's biggest offensive weapon - he is averaging 31.6 points in Oklahoma City's 12 play-off wins - but also their overall tone-setter. "Just has an 'I'm-gonna-get-it-done' mentality," Williams said. "I think it's rubbed off on the rest of the team." While the Thunder have seemingly been destined to reach the Finals, going 68-14 in the regular season to win the Western Conference going away, Indiana's path has been much less straightforward. The Pacers were under .500 as late as early January, before turning things around and finishing as the No.4 seeds in the Eastern Conference. "We started rocky but we just stayed steady and kept being ourselves and we just kept getting better," Indiana's Pascal Siakam said. In the play-offs, though, Indiana have been plenty dominant, beating the Bucks in five games, top-seeds Cleveland in five games, and the Knicks in six to advance to their first Finals since Reggie Miller starred for the franchise. The Thunder swept the two meetings during the regular season, the most recent a 132-111 victory in Oklahoma City on March 29. Much like they did in the regular season, the Thunder's defence has set the tone. Oklahoma City's 104.7 defensive rating - points allowed per 100 possessions - is tops in the NBA during the play-offs. The Pacers have shown plenty of offensive firepower, with a 117.7 offensive rating in 16 play-off games - behind only Cleveland's 122.6 and ahead of Oklahoma City's 115.9. "There's no shortcuts to beating this team," Haliburton said of the Thunder. Indiana had an adventurous trip to Oklahoma City. The Pacers' plane had to stop in Tulsa, Oklahoma, because of storms in the Oklahoma City area, though it finally was able to land on Tuesday night. The Oklahoma City Thunder are in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2012. The Indiana Pacers haven't been to the Finals since 2000. Neither has ever won an NBA title, but one will hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy in 2025. The final step there begins Thursday night (Friday morning AEST) when the teams square off in Game 1 in Oklahoma City. "I haven't really wrapped my head around the fact that I'm in the Finals," Thunder third-year star Jalen Williams said. "It's definitely a blessing that we're here and I try not to get too caught up in it because we still have a job to do." The teams are tied together through Paul George. The Pacers' and Thunder's trades of George helped chart their path to these Finals. First, in July 2017, Indiana traded George to Oklahoma City for Victor Oladipo and Domantas Sabonis. In February 2022, the Pacers traded Sabonis as part of a package that brought them Tyrese Haliburton - a cornerstone piece to this run. Oklahoma City's haul from their own George trade has been even more impactful to their current roster. After two All-Star seasons with the Thunder, George asked to be traded to the Los Angeles Clippers. Oklahoma City acquired not only Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, this season's NBA leading scorer and Most Valuable Player, but also the draft pick that was used to select Williams. Gilgeous-Alexander has turned into the Thunder's biggest offensive weapon - he is averaging 31.6 points in Oklahoma City's 12 play-off wins - but also their overall tone-setter. "Just has an 'I'm-gonna-get-it-done' mentality," Williams said. "I think it's rubbed off on the rest of the team." While the Thunder have seemingly been destined to reach the Finals, going 68-14 in the regular season to win the Western Conference going away, Indiana's path has been much less straightforward. The Pacers were under .500 as late as early January, before turning things around and finishing as the No.4 seeds in the Eastern Conference. "We started rocky but we just stayed steady and kept being ourselves and we just kept getting better," Indiana's Pascal Siakam said. In the play-offs, though, Indiana have been plenty dominant, beating the Bucks in five games, top-seeds Cleveland in five games, and the Knicks in six to advance to their first Finals since Reggie Miller starred for the franchise. The Thunder swept the two meetings during the regular season, the most recent a 132-111 victory in Oklahoma City on March 29. Much like they did in the regular season, the Thunder's defence has set the tone. Oklahoma City's 104.7 defensive rating - points allowed per 100 possessions - is tops in the NBA during the play-offs. The Pacers have shown plenty of offensive firepower, with a 117.7 offensive rating in 16 play-off games - behind only Cleveland's 122.6 and ahead of Oklahoma City's 115.9. "There's no shortcuts to beating this team," Haliburton said of the Thunder. Indiana had an adventurous trip to Oklahoma City. The Pacers' plane had to stop in Tulsa, Oklahoma, because of storms in the Oklahoma City area, though it finally was able to land on Tuesday night.


The Advertiser
3 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Vintage Novak makes hay on clay to set up Sinner semi
Three-time champion Novak Djokovic kept up his quest for a record-breaking 25th grand slam singles title, battling past third seed Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 to set up a French Open semi-final against top seed Jannik Sinner. The 38-year-old Serbian notched his 101st victory at Roland Garros, site of his Olympic gold medal victory last year at the Paris Games, after three hours and 17 minutes. Former world No.1 Djokovic is just two matches away from becoming the first player, male or female, to win 25 grand slam singles trophies. Earlier on Wednesday Sinner booked his spot in the last four with a straight-sets win over Kazakh Alexander Bublik. "Obviously there was a lot of tension, pressure, but it is normal when you play against Zverev, one of the best in the world," Djokovic said in a post-match interview. "My game is based on a lot of running. I am 38 years old, it is not easy to keep running like that but, OK, it works.'' Zverev, last year's finalist who is still searching for a maiden grand slam title, started strongly and broke Djokovic in the first game. Attempting to join the Serb, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer as the only men in the Open Era to reach French Open semi-finals in five consecutive years, the German held on to that advantage to earn the first set. Knowing he could not match his 28-year-old opponent for fitness, Djokovic tried to keep the rallies as short as possible, playing more and more drop shots - 35 in total - to force the tall Zverev to the net. Djokovic broke his opponent at 2-1 in the second set and was quickly 4-1 up before Zverev had any time to react. He secured the second set with yet another drop shot. The veteran then broke Zverev twice more to bag the third set with his opponent running out of steam, lacking accuracy and having no clear plan B. Another break at the start of the fourth set put Djokovic 2-0 up and firmly on the winning track before he wrapped it up on his fifth match point to reach a record-extending 51st grand slam semi-final. Earlier, Sinner marched on in his relentless pursuit of a first French Open title with a typically efficient win over Kazakh showman Bublik. Bublik had put out two top-10 seeds en route to the last eight - Australia's Alex de Minaur and Britain's Jack Draper - but Sinner ensured no repeat with a 6-1 7-5 6-0 victory. The near-flawless victory, in just one hour and 49 minutes, ensured Sinner became the first Italian man to play in six grand slam semi-finals and extended his winning run at the majors to 19 matches, after his triumphs at last year's US Open and the Australian Open in January. Sinner has not dropped a set, and has lost 36 games all told in his five matches to date. The Court Philippe Chatrier roof was open after a cold, rainy morning and Sinner raced away to a 5-0 lead before Bublik got on the board and then threatened to break the top seed. Sinner snuffed out his challenge to win the first set with ease but ran into trouble in the next set when Bublik pulled out several trademark drop shots and worked the No.1 seed harder to stay level after 10 games. An untimely dip allowed Sinner to pounce and the three-time grand slam champion broke before holding comfortably to stop any chance of a comeback from the world No.62 and move two sets ahead. The one-way traffic resumed in the third set. Bublik hit a failed underarm serve while trying to avoid going a double break down, before Sinner sealed the win to book a semi-final against Djokovic. Three-time champion Novak Djokovic kept up his quest for a record-breaking 25th grand slam singles title, battling past third seed Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 to set up a French Open semi-final against top seed Jannik Sinner. The 38-year-old Serbian notched his 101st victory at Roland Garros, site of his Olympic gold medal victory last year at the Paris Games, after three hours and 17 minutes. Former world No.1 Djokovic is just two matches away from becoming the first player, male or female, to win 25 grand slam singles trophies. Earlier on Wednesday Sinner booked his spot in the last four with a straight-sets win over Kazakh Alexander Bublik. "Obviously there was a lot of tension, pressure, but it is normal when you play against Zverev, one of the best in the world," Djokovic said in a post-match interview. "My game is based on a lot of running. I am 38 years old, it is not easy to keep running like that but, OK, it works.'' Zverev, last year's finalist who is still searching for a maiden grand slam title, started strongly and broke Djokovic in the first game. Attempting to join the Serb, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer as the only men in the Open Era to reach French Open semi-finals in five consecutive years, the German held on to that advantage to earn the first set. Knowing he could not match his 28-year-old opponent for fitness, Djokovic tried to keep the rallies as short as possible, playing more and more drop shots - 35 in total - to force the tall Zverev to the net. Djokovic broke his opponent at 2-1 in the second set and was quickly 4-1 up before Zverev had any time to react. He secured the second set with yet another drop shot. The veteran then broke Zverev twice more to bag the third set with his opponent running out of steam, lacking accuracy and having no clear plan B. Another break at the start of the fourth set put Djokovic 2-0 up and firmly on the winning track before he wrapped it up on his fifth match point to reach a record-extending 51st grand slam semi-final. Earlier, Sinner marched on in his relentless pursuit of a first French Open title with a typically efficient win over Kazakh showman Bublik. Bublik had put out two top-10 seeds en route to the last eight - Australia's Alex de Minaur and Britain's Jack Draper - but Sinner ensured no repeat with a 6-1 7-5 6-0 victory. The near-flawless victory, in just one hour and 49 minutes, ensured Sinner became the first Italian man to play in six grand slam semi-finals and extended his winning run at the majors to 19 matches, after his triumphs at last year's US Open and the Australian Open in January. Sinner has not dropped a set, and has lost 36 games all told in his five matches to date. The Court Philippe Chatrier roof was open after a cold, rainy morning and Sinner raced away to a 5-0 lead before Bublik got on the board and then threatened to break the top seed. Sinner snuffed out his challenge to win the first set with ease but ran into trouble in the next set when Bublik pulled out several trademark drop shots and worked the No.1 seed harder to stay level after 10 games. An untimely dip allowed Sinner to pounce and the three-time grand slam champion broke before holding comfortably to stop any chance of a comeback from the world No.62 and move two sets ahead. The one-way traffic resumed in the third set. Bublik hit a failed underarm serve while trying to avoid going a double break down, before Sinner sealed the win to book a semi-final against Djokovic. Three-time champion Novak Djokovic kept up his quest for a record-breaking 25th grand slam singles title, battling past third seed Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 to set up a French Open semi-final against top seed Jannik Sinner. The 38-year-old Serbian notched his 101st victory at Roland Garros, site of his Olympic gold medal victory last year at the Paris Games, after three hours and 17 minutes. Former world No.1 Djokovic is just two matches away from becoming the first player, male or female, to win 25 grand slam singles trophies. Earlier on Wednesday Sinner booked his spot in the last four with a straight-sets win over Kazakh Alexander Bublik. "Obviously there was a lot of tension, pressure, but it is normal when you play against Zverev, one of the best in the world," Djokovic said in a post-match interview. "My game is based on a lot of running. I am 38 years old, it is not easy to keep running like that but, OK, it works.'' Zverev, last year's finalist who is still searching for a maiden grand slam title, started strongly and broke Djokovic in the first game. Attempting to join the Serb, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer as the only men in the Open Era to reach French Open semi-finals in five consecutive years, the German held on to that advantage to earn the first set. Knowing he could not match his 28-year-old opponent for fitness, Djokovic tried to keep the rallies as short as possible, playing more and more drop shots - 35 in total - to force the tall Zverev to the net. Djokovic broke his opponent at 2-1 in the second set and was quickly 4-1 up before Zverev had any time to react. He secured the second set with yet another drop shot. The veteran then broke Zverev twice more to bag the third set with his opponent running out of steam, lacking accuracy and having no clear plan B. Another break at the start of the fourth set put Djokovic 2-0 up and firmly on the winning track before he wrapped it up on his fifth match point to reach a record-extending 51st grand slam semi-final. Earlier, Sinner marched on in his relentless pursuit of a first French Open title with a typically efficient win over Kazakh showman Bublik. Bublik had put out two top-10 seeds en route to the last eight - Australia's Alex de Minaur and Britain's Jack Draper - but Sinner ensured no repeat with a 6-1 7-5 6-0 victory. The near-flawless victory, in just one hour and 49 minutes, ensured Sinner became the first Italian man to play in six grand slam semi-finals and extended his winning run at the majors to 19 matches, after his triumphs at last year's US Open and the Australian Open in January. Sinner has not dropped a set, and has lost 36 games all told in his five matches to date. The Court Philippe Chatrier roof was open after a cold, rainy morning and Sinner raced away to a 5-0 lead before Bublik got on the board and then threatened to break the top seed. Sinner snuffed out his challenge to win the first set with ease but ran into trouble in the next set when Bublik pulled out several trademark drop shots and worked the No.1 seed harder to stay level after 10 games. An untimely dip allowed Sinner to pounce and the three-time grand slam champion broke before holding comfortably to stop any chance of a comeback from the world No.62 and move two sets ahead. The one-way traffic resumed in the third set. Bublik hit a failed underarm serve while trying to avoid going a double break down, before Sinner sealed the win to book a semi-final against Djokovic. Three-time champion Novak Djokovic kept up his quest for a record-breaking 25th grand slam singles title, battling past third seed Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 to set up a French Open semi-final against top seed Jannik Sinner. The 38-year-old Serbian notched his 101st victory at Roland Garros, site of his Olympic gold medal victory last year at the Paris Games, after three hours and 17 minutes. Former world No.1 Djokovic is just two matches away from becoming the first player, male or female, to win 25 grand slam singles trophies. Earlier on Wednesday Sinner booked his spot in the last four with a straight-sets win over Kazakh Alexander Bublik. "Obviously there was a lot of tension, pressure, but it is normal when you play against Zverev, one of the best in the world," Djokovic said in a post-match interview. "My game is based on a lot of running. I am 38 years old, it is not easy to keep running like that but, OK, it works.'' Zverev, last year's finalist who is still searching for a maiden grand slam title, started strongly and broke Djokovic in the first game. Attempting to join the Serb, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer as the only men in the Open Era to reach French Open semi-finals in five consecutive years, the German held on to that advantage to earn the first set. Knowing he could not match his 28-year-old opponent for fitness, Djokovic tried to keep the rallies as short as possible, playing more and more drop shots - 35 in total - to force the tall Zverev to the net. Djokovic broke his opponent at 2-1 in the second set and was quickly 4-1 up before Zverev had any time to react. He secured the second set with yet another drop shot. The veteran then broke Zverev twice more to bag the third set with his opponent running out of steam, lacking accuracy and having no clear plan B. Another break at the start of the fourth set put Djokovic 2-0 up and firmly on the winning track before he wrapped it up on his fifth match point to reach a record-extending 51st grand slam semi-final. Earlier, Sinner marched on in his relentless pursuit of a first French Open title with a typically efficient win over Kazakh showman Bublik. Bublik had put out two top-10 seeds en route to the last eight - Australia's Alex de Minaur and Britain's Jack Draper - but Sinner ensured no repeat with a 6-1 7-5 6-0 victory. The near-flawless victory, in just one hour and 49 minutes, ensured Sinner became the first Italian man to play in six grand slam semi-finals and extended his winning run at the majors to 19 matches, after his triumphs at last year's US Open and the Australian Open in January. Sinner has not dropped a set, and has lost 36 games all told in his five matches to date. The Court Philippe Chatrier roof was open after a cold, rainy morning and Sinner raced away to a 5-0 lead before Bublik got on the board and then threatened to break the top seed. Sinner snuffed out his challenge to win the first set with ease but ran into trouble in the next set when Bublik pulled out several trademark drop shots and worked the No.1 seed harder to stay level after 10 games. An untimely dip allowed Sinner to pounce and the three-time grand slam champion broke before holding comfortably to stop any chance of a comeback from the world No.62 and move two sets ahead. The one-way traffic resumed in the third set. Bublik hit a failed underarm serve while trying to avoid going a double break down, before Sinner sealed the win to book a semi-final against Djokovic.