‘Doesn’t get any bigger’: Sinner on facing Alcaraz in French Open final; shuts down Djokovic’s attempt at 25th major title | Tennis News
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.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.
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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.
