Novak Djokovic`s quest for a record 25th Grand Slam title came to an end in Paris after he was defeated by Jannik Sinner in the French Open semi-finals.
The 38-year-old Serbian legend said goodbye to the fans on Court Philippe-Chatrier and touched the clay court after being outplayed by the Italian world No. 1, who won the match 6-4, 7-5, 7-6.
Following his exit, Djokovic hinted that this might have been his final appearance at the French Open, twenty years after his debut.
Djokovic, who received medical treatment on his leg during the tournament, expressed deep gratitude for the crowd`s support, calling it “incredible.” He stated, “I don’t think I have ever received this much support in this stadium in my career in big matches against the best players in the world.”
He congratulated Sinner on his performance: “Congratulations to Jannik for another very good and solid performance. Mentally he deserved big credit for hanging in there in the tough moments when the whole stadium was cheering. He showed why he’s No. 1 in the world. He was just too solid.”
Reflecting on his future at the tournament, Djokovic admitted, “I mean this could have been the last match ever I played here, so I don’t know. That’s why I was a bit more emotional even in the end.” He added, “But if this was the farewell match of the Roland Garros for me in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd. Do I wish to play more? Yes, I do. But will I be able to play in 12 months’ time here again? I don’t know.”
Sinner, who has not lost a Grand Slam match since Wimbledon 2024 and has not dropped a set in this tournament, is set to face Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Sinner praised Djokovic, calling it a “special occasion to play against Novak.” He said, “He’s the best player in the history of our sport. It shows what a role model he is for all of us, especially us young players. What he is doing is incredible. We are very, very lucky to see him play at such a high level of tennis.”
In the other semi-final, Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the final after his opponent, Lorenzo Musetti, retired due to a leg injury. Alcaraz was leading 4-6, 7-6, 6-0, 2-0 when the match ended. Alcaraz expressed sympathy for Musetti, stating it was “not the way that I wanted to win.” He noted the intensity of the match and his strategy to push Musetti physically.
