Alexander Zverev swallows fly before Novak Djokovic defeat in Paris
Novak Djokovic defeated Alexander Zverev to become the oldest French Open semi-finalist in 57 years at age 38.
Zverev, who lost last year's final, struggled after accidentally swallowing a fly, allowing Djokovic to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.
Djokovic extended his winning streak at Roland Garros to 22 matches, with his last defeat in 2022 against Rafael Nadal.
The match's defining moment was a 41-shot rally won by Djokovic in the fourth set, preventing a break point for Zverev.
Djokovic will face Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals and potentially Carlos Alcaraz in the final as he aims for a record 25th Grand Slam title.
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The Independent
31 minutes ago
- The Independent
Angry Carlos Alcaraz out of trouble as Lorenzo Musetti retires from French Open semi-final
Carlos Alcaraz returned to the French Open final after Lorenzo Musetti retired injured, sending the defending champion through to play against either Novak Djokovic or Jannik Sinner on Sunday. Musetti, the Italian eighth seed, struggled with a left leg injury and quit the match after losing his eighth consecutive game, with Alcaraz progressing 4-6 7-6 (3) 6-0 2-0. Alcaraz was in a spot of bother, though, before Musetti's movement became too hampered for the match to be competitive. The 21-year-old had to dig deep and raise his level in the key second-set tiebreak. Musetti was looking confident and enjoying his first French Open semi-final, with Alcaraz growing frustrated and desperately needing to snap himself into focus. He managed, and now awaits a blockbuster of a final against either Djokovic or Sinner. The Spaniard will have time to go through his recovery before watching on TV tonight. "Of course I'll watch it, I'm not gonna miss it. It's one of the best matches we can have in tennis at the moment,' Alcaraz smiled. 'I'm gonna watch and enjoy. I'm a big tennis fan, it'll be a great match.' At one stage, it looked as if Alcaraz and Musetti were heading the distance, potentially delaying the later battle between the 24-time grand slam champion and the World No 1. 'The first two sets were really tough. I had chances to break his serve in the match and I couldn't make the most of it,' Alcaraz said. 'He was playing great tennis. When I won the second set there was relief.' It was hardly a violent explosion of anger, but Alcaraz seemed to wake up after kicking his bench in frustration when Musetti won an entertaining net exchange to lead 4-3 in the second. Musetti had resisted Alcaraz and was there to guide a volley down the line after the Spaniard had opened his legs for the tweener. It's the sort of fun point that Alcaraz plays for, but Musetti was winning too many of them. In the tiebreak, however, Alcaraz stepped it up, winning the first three points and then pushing Musetti deep into his backhand corner before landing a drop shot that tickled the net-cord on the way over. Alcaraz held up his racket in a gesture of apology but was ruthless in closing out the tiebreak and then instantly stamped his authority over Musetti in the third. The Italian barely won a point, and the source of his troubles were revealed after calling a physio at the end of the fifth game to receive treatment on his left leg. But Alcaraz had won 24 of the 30 points to win the bagel set, returning with new-found aggression and whipping his forehand with devastation. Musetti, though, hardly moved as Alcaraz aimed his backhand return past him on set point. 'In the third set, I knew what I had to do in the beginning, pushing him to the limit and trying to be aggressive,' Alcaraz said. "I was more calm and I could see this more clear and I could play great tennis. It's not great getting through or winning the match like this [with Musetti retiring]. Lorenzo is a great player and I wish him all the best and a quick recovery.' Alcaraz gets to put his feet up while Djokovic and Sinner meet for the chance to face him. The Spaniard has now won 13 consecutive matches at the French Open and will bid for a second Roland Garros title on Sunday, either against the best player in the world or the most successful men's player of all time.
Scottish Sun
42 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
Brit tennis sensation Hannah Klugman becomes first Brit female since Sue Barker 49 years ago to reach French Open final
Scroll down to read her reaction Teen dream Brit tennis sensation Hannah Klugman becomes first Brit female since Sue Barker 49 years ago to reach French Open final SHOCKED Hannah Klugman will attempt to win a maiden Grand Slam on Saturday… aged 16. The Kingston-upon-Thames schoolgirl is the first British player to reach the French Open juniors final in almost 50 years. Advertisement 2 Hannah Klugman made history as the 16-year-old booked a spot in the French Open girls singles final Credit: Getty 2 She became the youngest to achieve the feat since Sue Barker Credit: Darren Fletcher The 16-year-old battled through the semi-finals with a gritty 1-6 6-3 6-3 win over Bulgarian Rositsa Dencheva. Michelle Tyler, now 66, claimed the girls' title in Paris in 1976, the same year Sue Barker won the women's senior event. Klugman will face Austrian Lilli Tagger, 17, in Saturday's final and she said: 'I'm just a bit shocked to be honest. 'I wasn't playing my best and I found it tough to get myself into the match. Advertisement 'I felt like as soon as I did that I was in a good space and I thought I could do well if I got into the match. 'I think I've been mentally very good this week. "I think I'm staying calm in big moments and also just trying to take it in. 'These moments don't happen a lot, so trying to enjoy it is a big part. Advertisement 'My coach and physio are basically saying: 'Go out there and enjoy it.' Because you never know if you'll be in the spot again.' Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski reached the final of the men's doubles as they beat Americans Christian Harrison and Evan King 6-7 6-3 7-6 in a deciding-set tie-break. Carlos Alcaraz stuns French Open fans with classy gesture as he wins rally but concedes point due to little-known rule They will meet Spaniard Marcel Granollers and Argentina's Horacio Zeballos for the Championship but the last British winners on this trophy were Fred Perry and Pat Hughes in 1933. Alfie Hewett beat Argentine Gustavo Fernández 6-4 4-6 7-6 to reach the wheelchair singles final – where he plays No.1 seed Tokito Oda – and he is trying to win a fourth title, a first since 2021.
The Sun
42 minutes ago
- The Sun
Brit tennis sensation Hannah Klugman becomes first Brit female since Sue Barker 49 years ago to reach French Open final
SHOCKED Hannah Klugman will attempt to win a maiden Grand Slam on Saturday… aged 16. The Kingston-upon-Thames schoolgirl is the first British player to reach the French Open juniors final in almost 50 years. 2 2 The 16-year-old battled through the semi-finals with a gritty 1-6 6-3 6-3 win over Bulgarian Rositsa Dencheva. Michelle Tyler, now 66, claimed the girls' title in Paris in 1976, the same year Sue Barker won the women's senior event. Klugman will face Austrian Lilli Tagger, 17, in Saturday's final and she said: 'I'm just a bit shocked to be honest. 'I wasn't playing my best and I found it tough to get myself into the match. 'I felt like as soon as I did that I was in a good space and I thought I could do well if I got into the match. 'I think I've been mentally very good this week. "I think I'm staying calm in big moments and also just trying to take it in. 'These moments don't happen a lot, so trying to enjoy it is a big part. 'My coach and physio are basically saying: 'Go out there and enjoy it.' Because you never know if you'll be in the spot again.' Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski reached the final of the men's doubles as they beat Americans Christian Harrison and Evan King 6-7 6-3 7-6 in a deciding-set tie-break. They will meet Spaniard Marcel Granollers and Argentina's Horacio Zeballos for the Championship but the last British winners on this trophy were Fred Perry and Pat Hughes in 1933. Alfie Hewett beat Argentine Gustavo Fernández 6-4 4-6 7-6 to reach the wheelchair singles final – where he plays No.1 seed Tokito Oda – and he is trying to win a fourth title, a first since 2021.
