"Sinner is a perfect machine and ends with an admirable Djokovic"

Andrés Tomás Rico | 6 Jun 2025 | 22.32

"Tsitsipas is a perfect machine and overwhelms an admirable Djokovic." Photo: Getty Images

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Jannik Sinner, an all-terrain player, a perfectly greased machine, a wall that neither feels nor suffers, nor is shaken, he just hits the ball, and harder each time. And to his opponent, even if it's Novak Djokovic, he doesn't let him breathe, gradually cornering him, squeezing him, and although the Serbian leaves his soul on the court, in the end, he finishes him off. That's how a match with the world number one goes, who didn't succumb to the pressure of a Grand Slam semifinal or the respect inspired by the most decorated tennis player in history. He does not express himself, he only executes. In this ruthless manner, he eliminated the Belgrade native by 6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3) after 3 hours and 17 minutes and will face his great rival, also his kryptonite: Carlos Alcaraz.

Special mention goes to Novak Djokovic. What drives him to keep competing after having won absolutely everything? the tennis fan wonders. And the answer is simple: the hunger, the motivation, and the desire with which he steps onto a tennis court since he picked up a racket. This has been his recipe to win 24 Grand Slams and all the titles a tennis player can have. No 'buts' to Djokovic's tennis during this Roland Garros. He gave his all, simply the passage of time signals a new era and Sinner has decided with an iron hand that he will be one of its finest representatives.

One of the duels most awaited by the majority of fans. A scandalous semifinal between two of the best tennis players in the world. The last representative of the Big-3 from the old school against one of the standard-bearers of the new era. The number one against the champion of 24 Grand Slams. 4-4 in their head-to-head and only one spot for the Roland Garros final.

The Philippe Chatrier court had a grand atmosphere, with Andre Agassi in the front row, Paris champion in 1999 and winner of eight Grand Slams. And also, with a significant novelty compared to the first semifinal: it would be played without the roof on. That is, outdoors. An aspect that, at first, could benefit Djokovic.

The Serbian applied his game plan

A duel where physicality would play a key role was expected, as seen in the first semifinal where Musetti collapsed physically despite pushing Alcaraz against the ropes. And Djokovic, at 38, fifteen years older than Sinner, but with the competitive hunger of a kid, knew that if he engaged in a hard-hitting exchange with the Italian, he would come out on the losing end. So, he began to apply his survival manual: drop shots, high balls, changing directions.

The goal was to disrupt the rhythm and cruising speed of the world number one. However, he is accustomed to being pushed and tested, and almost always emerges alive from these challenges. And in a very clear manner: crushing the ball, hitting one more, and reaching all parts of the court.

Sinner, relentless

The Belgrade native could not find answers, he complained, and his face showed concern as he saw that his game was ineffective. But if Djokovic has something, it is to never be counted out. He regained his form, stuck to his tactic, saved three break points and even reached 0-30 in the next game to recover the break, but there was again a robot that neither feels nor suffers to save the game and lead 5-3. Subsequently closing the set by 6-4 in 46 minutes and showing that if someone wants to defeat him, they will have to demand much more.

The second set did not change the intentions of both players, but the Serbian decided to be a bit more direct and take risks, yet Sinner was everywhere, so much so that Djokovic even had to hit two drop shots in the same rally to outsmart him. It was evident in a 26-shot rally that got the Chatrier crowd on its feet. The 24-time Grand Slam champion did not give up, but his physical condition began to falter. Despite giving his all, Sinner was unreachable.

Djokovic cursed himself because no matter how much he increased the intensity, hit faster and harder, and put all the desire in, the Italian was an absolute wall. Nevertheless, the Serbian fought back, roaring and celebrating in front of the Parisian crowd when he managed to hold his serves. The issue was that on the return, his options were minimal, and the games passed by quickly. A second set that gradually leaned in favor of the 23-year-old seemed challenging.

The Serbian left his soul on the court

The world number one was all legs and power. Djokovic pushed himself to avoid losing his service game, but there came a moment when he could no longer withstand those onslaughts, and Sinner broke to lead 4-3. The Serbian knew things were not looking good, but the word 'surrender' did not appear in his dictionary. Sinner served to close out the second set, and put one foot into the Sunday final, so the Belgrade native fought back and leveled to 5-5, pure tennis.

The Italian accepted the resurgence of the 24-time Grand Slam winner, but was determined not to let it progress further. Knowing the match was at stake, he thwarted any rebellion and clawed back the break, to this time, at the second attempt, closing the set by 7-5. The world number one showed nerves of steel, enduring Djokovic's push. 2-0 and one set away from his first Roland Garros final.

The intensity of the battle and the high pace at which it was played took a toll on Djokovic's body, prompting him to call for the physiotherapist. The tempo slowed down, and the games unfolded. Djokovic did not throw in the towel, but changed his strategy, keeping the points as short as possible because the fuel in the tank was running low and the set was entering its decisive phase: 4-4.

The crowd wanted more tennis and chanted Nole's name. The set reached a tension where Djokovic excels, and he had three set points to extend a match that was a tennis ode. Everything hung by a thread, but Sinner resisted the pressure from Djokovic and the crowd to reach 5-5. The third set would be decided by the heart-stopping tie-break.

The tie-break was a true battle; neither gave an inch. There were only two beasts on the Philippe Chatrier court honoring Rafael Nadal's plaque. But as it happened throughout the match, when hands tremble and hearts race, Sinner emerged as the true number one he is. He dominated the final showdown with the composure of a champion, defeating a commendable Djokovic who fought until the end and showed why he is the greatest tennis player in history.

The Italian claimed a match to remember (6-4, 7-5, 7-6(3)) that perhaps confirms a changing of the guard and the end of an era, but Djokovic left the Big 3 legacy high, having to face a practically perfect machine that expresses nothing and reflects no sentiment, just plays tennis and only aims to win titles. On Sunday, he will have the opportunity to do so against another beast of this sport, Carlos Alcaraz. Fasten your seatbelts because a memorable final might be on the horizon.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Sinner es una máquina perfecta y termina con un admirable Djokovic