Novak Djokovic beats Alexander Zverev to set up a semifinal showdown with Jannik Sinner
PARIS: A crucial moment arrived more than 2 1/2 hours into Novak Djokovic's 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 French Open quarterfinal victory over Alexander Zverev. It was the fourth set, and Djokovic led, but Zverev was in possession of a break point and a chance to get back into Wednesday's match.
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Asharq Al-Awsat
2 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Sinner Beats Djokovic to Set Up Final Against Defending Champion Alcaraz
After beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (3) in the French Open semifinals on Friday, top-ranked Jannik Sinner must find a way past defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Sinner has not dropped a set en route to his first final at Roland-Garros, but Alcaraz has won their last four meetings and leads him 7-4 overall. Sinner is aiming for his fourth major title and Alcaraz his fifth. 'We try to push ourself in the best possible way,' Sinner said. 'And the stage, it doesn't get any bigger now.' Djokovic is the men's record 24-time Grand Slam champion but could not counter Sinner's relentless accuracy and pounding forehands on Court Philippe-Chatrier. 'I tried to stay there mentally, trying to play every point in the right way with the good intensity,' Sinner said. 'You have to be ready to counterattack. That's why it's very important to be focused, no? Because if you sleep, then the match is gone.' Sinner became the second Italian man to reach the final at Roland-Garros in the Open era, which began in 1968, after Adriano Panatta, the 1976 champion. Earlier, Alcaraz led 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-0, 2-0 against Lorenzo Musetti when the eighth-seeded Italian retired with a leg injury. Djokovic fought back in the third set but wilted in the tiebreaker, somehow missing an easy smash at the net to trail 3-0 and then lost on the second match point he faced when his forehand hit the net. 'These are rare and special moments,' Sinner said. 'I'm very happy.' Djokovic was emotional and said it might have been his last ever match at Roland-Garros. He kissed his hand after the defeat, then put it on the clay, as if saying farewell to the stadium. Sinner's tennis legacy here, and elsewhere, is still growing. He extended his winning streak in Grand Slam tournaments to 20 matches, after winning the US Open and the Australian Open. Djokovic was bidding for a record-extending 38th Grand Slam final and eighth at the French Open, a tournament he was won three times. But he spent much of the semifinal camped behind the baseline, sliding at full stretch and grunting loudly while Sinner sent him scurrying left and right like a windscreen wiper. 'I felt constantly under pressure, and he didn't allow me to have time to swing through the ball. He was just constantly on the line, trying to make me defend,' Djokovic said. 'So that's why he's the No. 1 in the world. I wish him best for the finals. I think it's going to be an amazing matchup with him and Carlos, the two best players at the moment.' Sinner praised Djokovic after beating him for a fourth straight time. 'It was such a special occasion playing against Novak in the semifinals of a Grand Slam,' Sinner said. 'I had to step up. I had to play the best tennis I could.' When they met at the net, Djokovic gave Sinner a warm embrace and bumped his chest several times. Djokovic seemed unsure how to trouble the Italian. He tilted his head back in frustration when, in the second game of the second set, his attempted drop shot landed short. Then, his lob was not quite high enough and Sinner smashed it easily. Finally, when a 26-stroke rally went his way — featuring sliced drop shots and even improbable retrieves — Djokovic got a huge ovation from the crowd, who bellowed out 'Novak! Novak!' as he milked their applause. That made it deuce. But Sinner took the game. Sinner was becoming the Roland-Garros showman Djokovic so often was on the main court, where he won three of his major titles. One improvised flick-of-the-wrist drop shot from back of the court was majestic, too good even for Djokovic to get back. Djokovic had a brief massage on his upper right thigh during the changeover at 6-5 down. Serving for the second set for a second time, Sinner clinched it when Djokovic could not return his strong serve. Djokovic took a medical time out immediately and received massage treatment on the same leg for a few minutes. He looked sharper in the third set, but Sinner held his nerve. What was wrong with Musetti? Earlier, Musetti was struggling with his left leg. He was 5-0 down after 16 minutes of the third set when he called for a trainer. Alcaraz broke Musetti in the next game to clinch the set in 21 minutes, winning 24 of 29 points. 'It's not great to win a match like this. Lorenzo is a great player,' Alcaraz said. 'I wish him all the best.' Musetti called for the trainer again after the third set and, after Alcaraz broke his serve to lead 2-0, Musetti walked slowly up to the net and received a hug from Alcaraz. 'I felt at the beginning of the third when I was serving, I start losing a little bit of strength on the left leg behind,' Musetti said. 'Tomorrow I will do exams.' Frustration got to Alcaraz during the second set, and at one point he aimed a side-footed kick at his changeover seat. 'The first two sets were really tough,' Alcaraz said. 'When I won the second set, I was relieved.' Musetti was playing in only his second major semifinal after reaching the same stage at Wimbledon last year. Alcaraz said he feels in top shape physically for the final. 'Really good. It's been three intense weeks but I'm feeling great,' he said. 'I have a lot of confidence right now.' Alcaraz improved to 21-1 on clay this year, winning titles on the dirt in Rome — beating Sinner in the final after the Italian returned from his doping ban — and Monte Carlo.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 hours ago
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Donnarumma Says Italy's Form Unacceptable After Drubbing by Norway
Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma offered no excuses for his side's poor showing in their 3-0 defeat at Norway in the World Cup qualifiers on Friday, saying their form was not acceptable and the fans deserve better. Playing the first match of their qualifying campaign, Italy were stunned after a ruthless first-half performance by Norway, who put three past the visitors thanks to Alexander Sorloth, Antonio Nusa and Erling Haaland. Italy sit fourth in Group I, while Norway lead the group with nine points from three matches. Estonia, Moldova and Israel are also in Group I. "I have no explanation at the moment. You just have to go inside and realize the performance tonight. Our fans don't deserve this," Donnarumma told Italian TV channel Rai Sport. "We all have to come out of these games together, we need to examine our conscience." The four-times World Cup winners have not qualified for the global showpiece event since 2014. Italy manager Luciano Spalletti said his team were going through a difficult patch and that he would speak with the Italian Football Federation about the situation. "From us, it has to come from us first of all. We are Italy and these matches are not acceptable... We must be more united than before," said Donnarumma, who won the Champions League, Ligue 1, French Cup and French Super Cup titles with Paris St Germain in the recently concluded season. Italy next host fifth-placed Moldova on Monday.
Arab News
13 hours ago
- Arab News
Sinner sets up Alcaraz French Open final with victory over Djokovic
PARIS: Jannik Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final after ending Novak Djokovic's latest tilt at a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title in the last four on Friday. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport
