PARIS — Even when Novak Djokovic received his one hundredth title in Geneva on the eve of the French Open, few folks made him their favourite to win at Roland Garros at age 38.
His 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 quarterfinal victory over Alexander Zverev on Wednesday, although, has thrust the Serbian again into the dialog.
The 24-time main winner is thru to a outstanding 51st Grand Slam semifinal, having outfoxed and outmaneuvered Zverev — and erasing the reminiscence of his withdrawal on account of damage after one set of their semifinal assembly on the Australian Open in January.
And although Djokovic performs world No. 1 Jannik Sinner within the semifinals Friday, he has dropped only one set on his means there. And the best way he turned issues round towards Zverev suggests he has a robust likelihood to get to one more ultimate.
This is what occurred Wednesday — and what it may imply.
Djokovic’s serve (and volley) was robust after the primary set
Djokovic started the match by dropping his opening service recreation, prompting him to vary rackets. As Zverev maintained the break benefit, Djokovic discovered the courtroom with simply 52% of his first serves, however that was the one time he misplaced serve within the match.
Because the second set started, the Serbian fell into a well-known sample. On the deuce courtroom, he served out broad, most of the time, and with Zverev standing so deep, he was even capable of serve and volley a number of occasions, reducing off the return on the web.
Within the second set, Djokovic made 76% of his first serves. Within the third, he upped it to 78%, successful 13 of 14 factors and dropping solely two factors on serves general. Zverev, in contrast, struggled notably on second serves, successful simply 33% within the second set and 20% within the third. Within the fourth set, as he saved a break level at 3-2 by successful a 41-shot rally, Djokovic was at 77%.
The drop shot, and selection, had been key as Zverev unraveled
Djokovic used a drop shot on the primary level of the match, and though he truly misplaced the purpose, the dropper was an important a part of his recreation, more and more in order the match wore on.
Whereas Zverev was happiest when going toe-to-toe with Djokovic from the baseline, from the tip of the primary set onward, Djokovic stood tighter to the baseline and started to dictate, various his tempo with the usage of slice and drop photographs to perfection.
Total, Djokovic hit 35 drop photographs, and even once they weren’t outright winners, he both received the purpose afterward or pressured indecision in Zverev’s thoughts. Zverev started to crumble. Even when the German rallied within the fourth set, Djokovic maintained his focus and degree to prevail.
Victory on and off the courtroom 🎸
What about that @SabalenkaA ?#RolandGarros | @DjokerNole pic.twitter.com/rM26rRWsyM— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 4, 2025
Can he actually win the title for a fourth time?
Nicely, it may be robust and here is why. Having taken out world No. 3 Zverev, he faces Sinner within the semifinal. After which, except Lorenzo Musetti springs a serious upset, Djokovic will face Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 2, within the ultimate.
No man has ever crushed the world’s high three gamers in a row to win a Slam, so the chances are towards him. And although nothing spurs Djokovic greater than somebody telling him he cannot do one thing, Sinner has received his previous three matches towards Djokovic. Beating the Italian — and maybe Alcaraz — is a gargantuan job.