Jannik Sinner is into a first Roland Garros final after the Italian defeated Novak Djokovic 6-4 7-5 7-6(3).
It was a monumental battle with three tough sets being played out but Sinner just had too much consistent power for the 24-time Grand Slam champion.
A first Roland Garros final now awaits Sinner as he takes on defending champion Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday.
Both players came to play in the early conditions as they went toe-to-toe from the baseline on a windy evening in Paris.
A good usage of the dropshot and forehand helped Djokovic to get through the first two service games but Sinner matched him in every aspect to begin with.
The world number one then did what he does best and raise his level when it mattered most, outpowering Djokovic in the longer rallies.
A break in the fifth game secured control of the match and the Italian nearly made it a double break with some ferocious hitting which moved Djokovic from side-to-side.
However, Djokovic saved multiple break points and held in an absolutely critical game to reduce the deficit to 4-3.
That was an important game for Djokovic who reinstalled belief into his game as he got to 0-30 in the following game.
There was no nonsense from Sinner as he came back to hold and then sealed a love hold with a backhand winner down the line to take the opening set in 45 minutes.
If the opening set was the starter then the second set was the main course as the match really picked up with the quality getting higher and higher.
The three-time champion changed tactics as he got more and more aggressive to try and outpower the world number one.
A number of half-chances were created but once again Sinner produced ridiculous tennis to prevent the break from happening.
It was Djokovic’s lack of efficiency that would cost him as some insane defence from Sinner at the net saw him break for a 4-3 lead.
There was a lack of belief that what Sinner was doing was human but suddenly he did show his humanity as for the first time in the last eight sets in their head-to-head the Italian was broken thanks to some awe-inspiring power from Djokovic.
Now was the real test to see where Sinner’s game was at but the Italian passed the test significantly as he broke back, displaying some outstanding power from all areas of the court.
Another break of serve from the Italian put him in control and the top seed just about held onto his serve despite an immense amount of pressure.
Two sets to love. Game over?
Not just yet. After having a medical time-out, Djokovic stepped up the aggression and nullified the world number one’s returning qualities.
The quality continued to grow from both players as the match continues to get tense as the set evolved.
Out of nowhere Djokovic played an inspired game in the tenth game to create multiple set points as he asked some severe questions of Sinner.
The Italian responded with attack as he came to the net and put pressure of his own as he saved the set points with the third set going to a tiebreak.
It was a valiant effort from Djokovic but Sinner was way too strong as he produced a dominant tiebreak to reach his first Roland Garros final.
After the match Sinner was full of praise for Djokovic and is happy to be in the final, “It was such a special occasion for me playing against Novak in a semi-final of a Grand Slam,” the Italian was quoted by the BBC Sport website as saying.
“It was so amazing, I had to step up and play the best tennis I could. It shows again what a role model for all of us, especially for young players. What he is doing is incredible. I wish him only the best for the rest of the season. We are so lucky to see him play high-level tennis.
“He achieved so many things. He is the best player in the history of our sport. Playing against him here is amazing. Of course, I tried not to think about this, but before you’re on court you feel the tension. I tried to prepare myself in the best possible way.
“I am very happy with how I did that today.”
Now a date with Carlos Alcaraz awaits in the final in a repeat of last year’s five set semi-final which saw the Spaniard win en route to winning the title.
