French Open 2025: Jannik Sinner defeats Novak Djokovic to reach first Roland Garros final against Carlos Alcaraz | Tennis News

French Open 2025: Jannik Sinner defeats Novak Djokovic to reach first Roland Garros final against Carlos Alcaraz | Tennis News

Jannik Sinner beat Novak Djokovic in straight sets to move into the French Open final in Paris. (AP) Jannik Sinner defeated Novak Djokovic in straight sets 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) at the French Open semi-finals on Friday, setting up a final clash with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who advanced when Lorenzo Musetti retired due to injury. This victory marks Sinner’s first Grand Slam final appearance, while ending Djokovic’s quest for a record-breaking 25th major title.World number one Sinner maintained his impressive form, remaining undefeated in sets throughout the tournament. The match lasted three hours and 16 minutes on Court Philippe Chatrier.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“He is the best player in the history of our sport, playing against him here is amazing,” said Sinner. “Of course I try to not think about this but before coming on court you feel the tension.”The 23-year-old Italian showed remarkable composure, particularly when breaking back immediately after failing to serve out the second set. He hit 44 winners across the three sets and successfully defended three set points in the tenth game of the third set.Djokovic, at 38, remained resilient throughout the contest but ultimately couldn’t convert the crucial set points in the third set.“Obviously Wimbledon is next, which is my childhood favourite tournament,” said Djokovic. “I’m going to do everything possible to get myself ready. I guess my best chances maybe are Wimbledon, to win another Slam, or faster hard court, maybe Australia or something like that.”The Serbian champion reflected on his future at Roland Garros: “This could have been the last match ever I played here, so I don’t know. I don’t know really what tomorrow brings in a way at this point in my career. You know, I’m going to keep on keeping on.”In the other semi-final, Alcaraz advanced when Musetti retired with a leg injury while trailing 4-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-0, 2-0.“It’s never great to go through or win a match when it’s like this,” said Alcaraz. “He’s done an incredible clay season. I wish him all the best, a quick recovery and that he’ll be back soon.”The 22-year-old Spaniard, seeking his fifth Grand Slam title, expressed confidence ahead of the final: “It’s been three intense weeks and now I have one step to make. I’ll give everything on Sunday, I’ve been playing great tennis this tournament.”Sinner acknowledged the challenge ahead, considering his recent record against Alcaraz, who has won their last four encounters, including the Italian Open final following Sinner’s return from a three-month doping ban.“Sunday is going to be very difficult, I know my head-to-head lately doesn’t look great against Carlos but let’s see what I can do,” said Sinner.The upcoming final marks several significant milestones. It will be the first Grand Slam final between two players born in the 2000s, with neither finalist having lost a major final before.The tournament also features a rare occurrence where the top two seeds will contest both the men’s and women’s finals, with Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff set to compete for the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen on Saturday.Musetti’s semi-final match saw him take the first set before Alcaraz gained momentum. The Italian received treatment on his left thigh during the third set, where he managed only five points in 22 minutes before retiring early in the fourth set.

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French Open: Iga Swiatek slams chair umpire after defeat to Aryna Sabalenka, says 'I wanted him to come down, but he didn’t' | Tennis News

French Open: Iga Swiatek slams chair umpire after defeat to Aryna Sabalenka, says ‘I wanted him to come down, but he didn’t’ | Tennis News

Poland’s Iga Swiatek (AP Photo) NEW DELHI: Iga Swiatek’s remarkable 26-match winning streak at the French Open came to a dramatic end on Thursday, but it wasn’t just Aryna Sabalenka’s dominant third set that left the world No. 5 frustrated. A key moment in the second set of their semifinal clash sparked controversy when chair umpire Kader Nouni denied Swiatek’s request to inspect a mark on the clay. Leading 4-2 in the second set with Sabalenka serving, Swiatek paused after a first serve that landed out and pointed to a mark, asking Nouni to come down. “I wanted him to come down, but he didn’t,” Swiatek said post-match. “I don’t think that was fair, especially when he came down every time Aryna asked him to. I don’t get it, but I don’t really care.” Poland’s Iga Swiatek is reflected in a glass as she plays a shot against Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus during their semifinal match of the French Tennis Open at the Roland-Garros stadium in Paris, Thursday, June 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Aurelien Morissard) Though she attempted to challenge the call, Swiatek ultimately returned to her position with a frustrated smile. “He was convincing me that I only came because I saw my return was out,” she added. Despite taking the second set, Swiatek couldn’t maintain momentum. Sabalenka roared back to take the match 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-0, earning her first win over Swiatek at Roland Garros and ending the Pole’s bid for a fourth straight title in Paris. The match, played under a closed roof due to rain, showcased Sabalenka’s growing versatility, especially on clay. Her error-free final set contrasted sharply with Swiatek’s 12 unforced errors. Sabalenka now advances to her first French Open final, where she’ll face either Coco Gauff or French sensation Loïs Boisson. As Swiatek reflects on missed opportunities and a moment of officiating controversy, Sabalenka marches on, focused but cautious. “The job is not done yet,” she said, eyeing her fourth Grand Slam title—and possibly her first on clay.

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Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal not ruling out French Open withdrawal: Won’t be the end of the world

22-time Grand Slam Rafael Nadal sparked fears about retiring without playing the French Open for one last time in his career. Speaking ahead of his return to the Madrid Open, Nadal said he is still not 100 percent, recovering from a muscle injury that has troubled him since his return to action from a long layoff earlier in the year. The Spanish great, a winner of 14 Roland Garros titles, said he is not thinking that it would be the end of the world if he doesn’t play his favourite tournament in May. “If I arrive in Paris the way I feel today, I won’t play. I’ll play Roland Garros if I feel competitiveâ€æ It won’t be the end of the world or the end of my career. I still have goals after Roland Garros, like the Olympics,” Nadal, who confirmed his appearance in the Laver Cup in September said on Wednesday in Madrid. Nadal, who has played only 5 competitive matches on the tour in his last year as a professional tennis player, was preparing to be fit for the Roland Garros and the Paris Olympics. However, a muscle injury seems to be nagging him since the start of the season. Nadal did not play the Australian Open earlier in the year after he returned to action with a third-round exit in an ATP 250 tournament in Brisbane. Nadal missed the hard-court swing in the US and missed the Monte Carlo Masters in clay and returned to action in Barcelona earlier in the month. He suffered a second-round exit, but said he was happy to be competitive at the highest level. More to follow… Published By: Akshay Ramesh Published On: Apr 24, 2024

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