French Open: Djokovic outlasts Zverev, turns into oldest semifinalist in 57 years
24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic superior to the semi-finals of the French Open 2025 with a commanding efficiency. On Wednesday, June 4, the 38-year-old defeated final 12 months’s runner-up Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 at Court docket Philippe-Chatrier.
The Serb took three hours and 17 minutes to beat the German and safe his place in a record-extending 51st Grand Slam semi-final.
Djokovic additionally turned the oldest participant in 57 years to succeed in the French Open semi-finals, a feat final achieved by Richard Gonzales in 1968 on the age of 40 years and 18 days. After struggling 4 first-round exits earlier this 12 months, Djokovic appeared out of rhythm, however has staged a formidable comeback in Paris, maintaining his hopes alive for a twenty fifth main title – his first because the 2023 US Open.
Zverev began sturdy, breaking Djokovic early to go 2-0 up and ultimately taking the opening set — the primary set Djokovic dropped within the match. However from the second set onwards, Djokovic raised his stage and didn’t enable Zverev one other break of serve for the remainder of the match.
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Talking after the win, Djokovic stated he needed to combine issues up and successfully deploy drop photographs to maintain Zverev guessing.
“Particularly over the past recreation, my tactic was simply to play drop photographs. So I performed three or 4 in a row Perhaps you possibly can’t see it on TV, however there’s lots of wind from one aspect, so it offers the feeling that you have to hit twice as onerous. It was vital to fluctuate the sport,” Djokovic stated within the on-court interview.
Zverev was let down by his inconsistency, committing 42 unforced errors regardless of hitting 38 winners – simply 4 fewer than Djokovic’s tally.
Within the semi-finals, Djokovic faces a formidable problem in World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who cruised previous Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik with a dominant 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 victory within the quarter-finals.
