Preview: Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic chase history in Roland Garros blockbuster

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Preview: Sinner & Djokovic chase history in Roland Garros blockbuster

Sinner on 19-match major win streak, Djokovic eyes record 25th Grand Slam title

Peter Staples/ATP Tour Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic's Lexus ATP Head2Head series is tied at 4-4. By Jerome Coombe

With history on the line for both, Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic will reignite their evenly poised Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry on Friday at Roland Garros, where they will battle for a spot in the championship match.

The runaway No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings, Sinner is riding a 19-match Grand Slam winning streak and chasing his third consecutive major title. The 23-year-old has quickly established himself as a dominant force on the ATP Tour, and his recent mastery over Djokovic adds fuel to the fire.

While their Lexus ATP Head2Head series is level at 4-4, Sinner has won the past three meetings, including last year’s Shanghai final. But the Italian knows better than to rest on his laurels against Djokovic, who will compete in a record-extending 51st Grand Slam semi-final.

“He has shown in the last period that he is back to the level,” Sinner said of Djokovic. “He plays very, very well, so it's going to be quite tactical, but very, very difficult. He's such an experienced player, 24 Grand Slam [titles]. I think that says everything.”

Fresh from claiming his 100th tour-level title in Geneva, Djokovic has his sights set on another milestone at Roland Garros: a record 25th major title. The Serbian is unbeaten at the venue since 2022, having captured his third crown here in 2023 before an inspired run at last year’s Paris Olympics, where he won the gold medal that eluded him for so long.

Even in the latter stages of his career, the 38-year-old continues to strive for excellence, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to his clash with the top-seeded Sinner. Djokovic has, throughout the fortnight, reiterated his enduring passion for rewriting tennis history.

“History in this sport has given me everything in my life, it means a lot to me,” Djokovic said after his first-round win against Mackenzie McDonald. “I always try to make history where I can… In all the tournaments I play, all the practises, all the matches, and especially during the biggest tournaments in the world.

“There is an opportunity to make more history, and that is one of the biggest motivations I have for competitions, for continuing to work and better myself.”

To reach a 38th Grand Slam final, Djokovic will need to back up his authoritative four-set quarter-final win over last year’s runner-up Alexander Zverev. He could also possibly run a gauntlet of Top-3 opponents en route to the title with Sinner up next and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz, who faces Lorenzo Musetti, looming in the final.

Sinner, meanwhile, has looked razor sharp since returning from a three-month absence last month. He reached the final in Rome and has been near flawless in Paris, becoming the only semi-finalist yet to drop a set and earning the fourth-longest major win streak this century behind Djokovic (30), Roger Federer (27) and Rafael Nadal (25).

In their ninth meeting, Sinner will undoubtedly look to dictate with his trademark baseline aggression, but if Djokovic’s performance over Zverev is any indication, a compelling tactical battle may unfold. After dropping his first set of the tournament, the Serbian adjusted brilliantly, mixing in frequent drop shots and shifting the rhythm to disrupt Zverev’s tempo.

That same strategic variety could be crucial against Sinner, whose powerful groundstrokes and willingness to rally make him dangerous in extended exchanges. If Djokovic employs a similar pattern of softening the court and pulling Sinner forward, the Italian will need to stay alert and adaptable, particularly in neutral and defensive positions where quick changes in tempo can open up the court.

Sinner, who is now 17-1 on the season, is riding high on confidence. But no amount of dominance can overshadow Djokovic’s reputation as a big-match player.

“He's going to play [at] a very high level, as he did basically every tournament that he played in the last year and a half. I don't expect anything less from him. But these kinds of matchups and challenges in a way extract the best out of me,” said Djokovic. “Playing best-of-five, late stages of a Grand Slam against No. 1 in the world is, you can't get more motivated than that for me at this age.”

With his victory over Cameron Norrie in the fourth round, Djokovic recorded 100 wins at a major tournament for the first time in his career. Trailing only Nadal (112) for the most wins at Roland Garros, Djokovic owns a 101-16 tournament record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

Sinner will be eager to halt Djokovic’s bid for glory in the French capital, while also keen to better his result from last year, when he fell to Alcaraz in a five-set tussle.

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