Novak Djokovic’s last meeting with Alexander Zverev ended in disappointment, as injury forced the Serbian to withdraw mid-match during their Australian Open semifinal clash in January. But on Wednesday night in Paris, it was a different story entirely.
In a gritty, tactical battle lasting over three hours on Court Philippe-Chatrier, the 24-time Grand Slam champion dug deep to overcome a one-set deficit, defeating last year’s finalist 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 and booking his place in the 2025 Roland-Garros semifinals.
It was Djokovic’s 51st Grand Slam semifinal appearance — a men’s record — and his 13th at Roland-Garros. Only Chris Evert, with 52, has more among all players. At 37, Djokovic also becomes the second-oldest man to reach the semifinals at Roland-Garros in the Open era, behind Pancho Gonzales in 1968.
“Beating one of the best players in the world on one of the sport’s biggest stages is what I work for,” Djokovic said post-match. “These are the matches and moments that still motivate me every single day.”
Tactical adjustments key to comeback
Djokovic’s ability to adapt proved crucial. Struggling early in windy conditions, he dropped the opening set and fell behind 2-0 before switching rackets — and tactics. From there, he varied pace and employed drop shots with remarkable precision to neutralize Zverev’s deep-court power game.
“Especially in the last game, my tactic was to play drop shots,” he said. “You can’t always see it on TV, but the wind was a big factor. You feel like you have to hit the ball twice as hard.”
Throughout the match, Djokovic used drop shots to draw Zverev out of position and break the rhythm of baseline rallies. He deployed two in the crucial 24-shot rally that clinched the second set and repeatedly returned to the tactic in key moments of the match.
Holding firm under pressure
After an early break in the first set, Djokovic didn’t drop serve again. He faced only three break points in the match, saving each with poise and precision. A particularly pivotal moment came at 3-2 in the fourth set, during a grueling 41-shot rally — the longest of the match.
Zverev had two chances to put the point away with overheads but failed to finish. Djokovic, ever the defensive master, eventually lured the German to the net with another clever drop shot before striking a cross-court forehand winner that sent the Chatrier crowd into raptures.
The crowd responded with a standing ovation as Djokovic, hands on hips and visibly emotional, took a moment to acknowledge the reception.
Another milestone, another challenge
The victory marked Djokovic’s 101st career win at Roland-Garros and set up a blockbuster semifinal against top seed Jannik Sinner, who defeated Djokovic earlier this year at the Australian Open. Their head-to-head is currently tied at 4-4, though Sinner has won the last three meetings.
Should Djokovic advance, and if No.2 seed Carlos Alcaraz overcomes Lorenzo Musetti in the other semifinal, the Serbian could make history once again. No player has ever defeated the world’s top three ranked opponents en route to a Grand Slam title since the ATP rankings began.
With two young challengers potentially standing between him and Grand Slam title No. 25, Djokovic remains firmly in the hunt — not just for records, but for legacy.
