'Doesn't get any bigger': Sinner on facing Alcaraz in French Open final; shuts down Djokovic's attempt at 25th major title
Jannik Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in the French Open semi-finals and will now face Carlos Alcaraz for the title. (AP)
Jannik Sinner advanced to his first
French Open
final after defeating
Novak Djokovic
in straight sets 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) at Roland Garros on Friday. The world number one will face Carlos Alcaraz in Sunday's final, marking the first Grand Slam final between two players born in the 2000s.
Sinner's victory ended Djokovic's pursuit of a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title in a match that lasted three hours and 16 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
"The stage, it doesn't get any bigger now. Grand Slam finals against Carlos, it's a special moment for me and for him, too. He won here last year, so let's see what's coming. But for sure, the tension you feel before the match and during the match is a little bit different in a way, because we are both very young, we are both different, but talented," said Sinner.
The Italian, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament, will look to avenge his five-set semifinal loss to Alcaraz from last year's French Open.
This victory marked Sinner's fourth consecutive win over the 38-year-old Djokovic, giving him a 5-4 edge in their head-to-head record.
The upcoming final ensures that a sixth successive major title will be claimed by either Sinner or world number two Alcaraz, suggesting a generational shift in men's tennis.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
बिक्री के लिए लक्जरी घड़ियाँ (कीमतें देखें)
Luxury Watches For Sale | Search Ads
अभी खरीदें
Undo
Alcaraz enters the final with momentum, having won his last four matches against Sinner, including their recent Italian Open final following Sinner's return from a three-month doping ban.
"It takes time to compare us with the big three. I believe that tennis or every sport needs rivalries, no? This could be potentially one of these, but there are amazing players coming up," Sinner remarked about comparisons to the rivalries of Djokovic, Nadal, and Federer.
Djokovic, who was attempting to become the first man to win a Slam by defeating the world's top three players, will now focus on Wimbledon next month.
"This could have been the last match ever I played here, so I don't know. Obviously Wimbledon is next, which is my childhood favourite tournament. I'm going to do everything possible to get myself ready," Djokovic stated.
Sinner dominated the first set, securing a break in the fifth game and closing it out with a backhand winner.
Despite Djokovic's strong start in the second set, he couldn't break Sinner's serve.
The Italian claimed the second set with a resilient service game featuring two aces, including one on a second serve.
Djokovic received treatment on his left leg before the third set and later had three set points in the tenth game, but Sinner saved them all.
Poll
Who do you think will win the French Open final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz?
Jannik Sinner
Carlos Alcaraz
The match concluded in a tiebreak with Sinner prevailing as Djokovic netted on match point.
"Of course, it's stressful. It's playing against Novak, playing against the best players in the world, you don't get moments where you can relax. He makes you feel that," Sinner reflected on facing Djokovic.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
27 minutes ago
- Time of India
French Open 2025: Novak Djokovic soaks in the love as he hints at Paris farewell, points to Wimbledon as his best shot at a Grand Slam
Novak Djokovic applauds the French Open crowd after his loss to Jannik Sinner in the semi-final at Roland Garros in Paris (Image via AP) The Times of India at Roland Garros : On his way out of Court Philippe Chatrier for probably the last time in his storied career, Novak Djokovic dropped his bags, turned to the packed house and applauded them. Then, before exiting the arena where he has thrice reigned, the 24-time Major winner tapped the ground and patted his chest, showing his love for Roland Garros and Paris. Djokovic - who had the near 15,000-strong crowd pulling for him in the French Open semifinals on Friday night when he faced the world No.1 Jannik Sinner - said his action was appreciation. 'Just a great sense of gratitude for the kind of support that I received tonight,' he said. 'Incredible, I don't think I have ever received this much support in this stadium in my career in big matches against the best players in the world. The crowd were terrific in moments when it seemed like it was going all of his way, they would lift me up and encourage me and give me strength to keep going and fight to the last ball, which I did. ' 'This could have been the last match I played here, that's why I was a bit more emotional in the end,' Djokovic said. Virat Kohli's love for 'dhaba' food, priority for family & more | RCB bus driver shares stories Djokovic's loss to the 23-year-old Sinner may reflect a straight-set scoreline, but the Serb was just 15 points behind the Italian in the total point count, that's how evenly balanced the last-four clash was. Djokovic, who was asked about his calendar, reiterated that Grand Slams were the priority at this stage in his career. Poll Did Djokovic's loss to Sinner surprise you? Yes, I expected him to win. No, Sinner is a stronger player. 'Wimbledon is next, which is my childhood favorite tournament. I'm going to do everything possible to get myself ready. My best chances maybe are Wimbledon to win another Slam or a faster hard court, maybe Australia,' he said. The world No.6, looking for a historic 25th major title, said the plan was to play the Grand Slams this year, Wimbledon and then the US Open. Novak Djokovic after losing to Jannik Sinner at the French Open (Image via X) Djokovic, who called for a trainer during the semifinal, said he was dealing with a muscular issue throughout the tournament. 'It was bothering me a little bit in some long matches. It's a muscular issue,' he said. The Serbian superstar said matches against Sinner and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz force you to go for more. 'That's what these kinds of guys Sinner and Alcaraz particularly present on the court. They put pressure, so they're constantly on you and basically increase the pressure as the match progresses,' he said. 'So when the opportunities are presented, it makes you a little more anxious, you want to go for the shot. ' Djokovic said that while there may be some similarities in Sinner's and his playing styles, they were very different players. 'When I was at my best, I was also playing quite fast all the time. But he's different,' he said. 'With Alexander Zverev (in the quarters) I felt like I had a bit more time from the baseline,. With Jannik, no. No time. So you have to constantly be at your best.'
Time of India
28 minutes ago
- Time of India
ICC WTC Final: Beau Webster aims for spot in Australia's XI against South Africa
Beau Webster. (Pic Credit - X) Beau Webster 's remarkable performances are making him a strong contender for Australia's playing XI in the ultimate Test at Lord's. The Australian all-rounder has been putting in considerable effort to secure his position in the team for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship Final against South Africa. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Webster's journey began impressively with his debut against India in Sydney earlier this year, followed by notable displays during Australia's Sri Lankan tour. Despite Cameron Green 's return from back surgery creating competition, Green's limited role as a batsman at Lord's potentially leaves space for the self-assured 31-year-old Webster in the lineup. Who's that IPL player? Determined to maintain his visibility to the selection committee, Webster hopes to demonstrate his abilities against South Africa at Lord's. "I'd be hugely proud to represent the country in such a big game," Webster told ICC Digital. "The boys look forward to this fixture and the two-year cycle means there is a lot of cricket to get to this point and being a part of that I'm really proud of. I'll be doing everything I can to try and play and show everyone what I can do." Virat Kohli's love for 'dhaba' food, priority for family & more | RCB bus driver shares stories Webster's preparation included four matches with Warwickshire county side in May, where he delivered strong performances with both bat and ball whilst adapting to English conditions. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 오스템 임플란트 받아가세요 임플란터 더 알아보기 Undo Although facing South Africa's Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen in the World Test Championship Final presents a greater challenge, Webster considers his Warwickshire experience valuable. "I was lucky enough to play four games for Warwickshire in some different conditions with the Dukes ball," Webster said. "I think it was only beneficial for both my batting and bowling and I feel like I'm hitting the ball as well as I ever have and hopefully that can continue if I get the nod (against South Africa)."
Time of India
29 minutes ago
- Time of India
Canadian swimmer Summer McIntosh betters Ariarne Titmus, smashes this big world record
Canadian teenager Summer McIntosh delivered a sensational performance by smashing the women's 400m freestyle world record at the Canadian Swimming Trials with a timing of 3min 54.18sec in Montreal on Saturday. The young swimming prodigy stunned fans and competitors alike with her blazing speed and impeccable technique, eclipsing the previous mark held by Australia's Ariarne Titmus . This is an ominous sign for McIntosh, a three-time Olympic gold medallist and former world record-holder in the event, just a month ahead of this year's World Championships in Singapore. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Moose Approaches Girl At Bus Stop In Davao Del Norte - Watch What Happens Happy in Shape Undo McIntosh shattered the existing world record of 3:55.38, which was established by Titmus during the 2023 World Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, surpassing it by more than a full second. "Going into tonight I knew that my training has been really good these past few months, and I knew that I could do something special," the 18-year-old star said. "I mean, I didn't think my training would be 54.1, but I'm really happy with that overall." Live Events — kylesockwell (@kylesockwell) McIntosh's performance was remarkable as she achieved unprecedented success by completing each lap under 30 seconds, becoming the first woman to accomplish this feat. The Canadian's impressive split timings were: 27.22, 29.73, 29.61, 29.86, 29.62, 29.61, 29.47, 29.06. Taking a break following her successful defence of the 400 metres freestyle title at the Paris Olympics last year, Titmus is unable to respond immediately to McIntosh's remarkable performance that shattered her previous world record. Titmus maintains an undefeated record against McIntosh in head-to-head 400m competitions, securing victories with gold medals in Paris last year and Tokyo in 2021. However, the Canadian swimmer stands as her most significant challenger in the quest for a third consecutive Olympic triumph at Los Angeles in 2028. McIntosh was just 17 when she secured victories in three events at the 2024 Paris Games, clinching gold medals in the 200m butterfly, 200m medley and 400m medley. She is now preparing to compete in Singapore with the aim of expanding her impressive collection of four world championship titles.
