Game, Set, Match: Jannik Sinner sets up Carlos Alcaraz final

New York Times

19 hours ago

Recap the men's singles semis at the 2025 French Open as top seed Sinner beat Djokovic to set up Sunday's final against Carlos Alcaraz in Paris Getty Images
Jannik Sinner's classic win against Novak Djokovic saw the world No. 1 set up a mouthwatering men's singles final against Carlos Alcaraz (2) on Sunday at the 2025 French Open.
Top seed Sinner beat seven-time finalist Novak Djokovic (6) in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3) to make his first French Open final. Afterward, Djokovic admitted it could be his last ever match at Roland Garros.
Defending champion Alcaraz reached the showpiece after Lorenzo Musetti (8) retired with an injury when down 6-4, 6-7(3), 0-6, 0-2 on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
It will be the first time that Sinner and Alcaraz will meet in a Grand Slam final. The Spaniard is looking for major No. 5, while the Italian aims for his third consecutive slam.
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Jannik Sinner secures the win in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3).
Novak Djokovic's tournament is over. His bid for 25 Grand Slam singles titles is over. At least for now.
He applauds the crowd but leaves Philippe-Chatrier the vanquished rather than the vanquisher.
Sinner 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3) Djokovic
Jannik Sinner, ball on his own serve, three match points to play with.
And Novak Djokovic nets!
Sinner 6-4, 7-5, 6-6 (*6-3) Djokovic
Djokovic errs. 5-2. Fans' hands are on their faces, covering their mouths, on their heads.
That's poor from Novak Djokovic. He slashes at a central forehand.
Four match points to Sinner. Now three.
It's reassuring in a way that the athlete who has come as close to anyone to sporting perfection can still have a weakness.
Novak Djokovic will have nightmares about that missed smash if he loses this set. Getty Images
Sinner 6-4, 7-5, 6-6 (4-2) Djokovic
These are crucial points for Novak Djokovic. He wins two points in a row, the second of which after Sinner goes marginally long. Sinner's serve at 3-2 just before they swap ends...
And Djokovic drags it wide left into the tramlines. 4-2 at the changeover.
Novak Djokovic's overhead has a bit of a reputation.
Not letting that bounce may be the end. Getty Images
Sinner 6-4, 7-5, 6-6 (3-0*) Djokovic
Novak Djokovic serves first, goes 1-0 down and concedes the serve to his opponent. Jannik Sinner slings his racket at four shots in a row, Djokovic returns three before the voltage overwhelms him.
So much juice on them. 2-0. HOW has Djokovic missed that?! He plays a wonderful point, Sinner crabbing desperately behind the baseline, Djokovic can wait an age for it to drop and he shoves it into the net.
Why not wait for it to bounce? He's 3-0 down. Getty Images
Sinner 6-4, 7-5, 6-6* Djokovic
A Mexican wave swings around Court Philippe-Chatrier! Top-level tennis isn't always this fun. But the sheer gleeful disbelief of being able to watch an encounter this good is bringing these fans so much joy.
Anyway, to the tennis, as patrons hold blankets over their knees in the Parisian chill. Ace from Sinner, out wide. 15-0. Sinner misses a backhand by a mile, so uncharacteristic, 15-all.
Djokovic return long, and he knows it's out as soon as he hits it. 30-15, but Sinner is thrashing at the ball a little bit, slightly overeager to wrap this up maybe, and it's wide. 30-all.
Return to centre of court, Sinner disguises his intentions, forehand winner, his 25th to Djokovic's 22. Game point at 40-30. Djokovic long and we have a tiebreak! Getty Images
The level here is so good, you just hope that whoever wins isn't completely destroyed physically and emotionally by the time they come to play in Sunday's final.
Djokovic surely wouldn't be able to rebound after winning in five in less than 48 hours, and don't underestimate how much this will be taking out of Sinner.
Even without the three-month doping ban, he's played so few matches like this in his career. Getty Images
Sinner 6-4, 7-5, *5-6 Djokovic
Djokovic imbues an open-body forehand with the frustration and angst and stress of around 30 years of playing tennis and it zips beyond Sinner.
Massive serve and he holds.
On the chair, Djokovic moans to the umpire about a Sinner serve in the previous game that was 'clearly out'.
Even if this ends in a straight-set result, it's one of the highest-quality men's matches in recent times. Getty Images
Sinner 6-4, 7-5, *5-5 Djokovic
Djokovic 15-0. Overhand smash, he has the whole court to aim at, but with Sinner in no man's land he pulls it needlessly wide. 15-all and Djokovic grins, baring his teeth, without a shred of humour or jocularity.
Djokovic rather hits it straight back to Sinner, who unleashes a sliding forehand winner from another galaxy. Andromeda, perhaps. But Sinner, on the stretch, nets and sticks his tongue out in annoyance.
Three hours on the match clock now! Getty Images
Sinner 6-4, 7-5, 5-5* Djokovic
Djokovic, exhausted, pulls one wide. Sinner holds. Sinner unflinching and unblinking in the face of arguably the most successful men's tennis player of all time. Getty Images
The crowd are so with Djokovic here, even more so after that little contretemps about a line call.
Djokovic needs to harness this energy, and he knows better than pretty much anyone how to do that.
Sinner 6-4, 7-5, 4-5* Djokovic
Djokovic, on advantage, on break point and set point, sees the space to Sinner's left... but he overcooks it. Back to deuce.
Now Djokovic's shot is called out. The umpire confirms it's out. As does HawkEye, by three millimetres, in fact. The crowd on Chatrier don't like it, though! Boos and jeers echoing around the show court.
We play on, Sinner advantage. But Djokovic is enlivened by that frustration and sense of injustice and he smashes away the volley! Deuce. Nearly 10 minutes gone in this game!
Serve wide to the left, returned, winner scorching to the right. Advantage Sinner again.
I haven't seen Djokovic being actively coached like this in a match for... I don't even know how long.
Sinner 6-4, 7-5, 4-5* Djokovic
Sinner power, 15-30. I don't know if Novak Djokovic is a Bee Gees fan but he's just about Stayin' Alive out there.
And he forces Sinner to go long! Two set points!
Some goon in the crowd screams some nonsense and the umpire tells them off.
Djokovic can only pull it high, backing off a little, and Sinner volleys it away venomously. One set point still.
Not anymore! Massive serve, again pulled out of the top drawer exactly when he needed it. Deuce. Ooh, Sinner pulls it wide, advantage Novak...
Nearly every tennis match has a hinge moment.
This one has it now.
And the thing about it is, it might not change the result — but it could change the course of the Coupe des Mousquetaires.
Sinner 6-4, 7-5, 4-5* Djokovic
Sinner long. 0-15. Djokovic three points from the set, but even a glimmer of light down a lengthy tunnel is greeted with widespread cheers by 15,000 people, give or take, around Philippe-Chatrier.
Now then! 0-30! Sinner goes long, the decibels amp up a notch, and Djokovic pumps his fist. He's squandered positions of 0-30 several times so far this match. Can he hang on?