PARIS – Alexander Zverev was right. Novak Djokovic can play tennis.
The Serbian is into his 51st Grand Slam semifinal, just two wins away from his 25th major title, playing old-school tennis—how it used to be done on slow courts.
With a 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win, Djokovic earned his 101st victory at Roland Garros, a tournament he might have won several more times if it weren’t for Rafael Nadal’s dominance. With this win over Zverev, he’s now reached 13 semifinals in Paris.
On the clay of Court Philippe Chatrier, Djokovic played vintage style: angled shots with little power, frequent drop shots, lobs, and volleys. He moved the German all over the court and wore him down point by point.
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“Novak Djokovic will never be a dark horse,” Zverev had said before the match. Especially not in Grand Slams. In a poor season with more losses than usual, the Serbian is bringing out his best when it matters most. Nothing new.
Zverev was Djokovic’s first real test in this Roland Garros. Until this cool Wednesday night, the Serb hadn’t faced a single top-70 opponent at the French Open.
Flat and uninspired, Zverev didn’t even push Djokovic to his limit. The world No. 3 confirmed the subpar level he’s shown through most of 2025 and leaves Paris without defending last year’s final.
Now comes Djokovic’s biggest challenge of the season so far: facing an in-form Jannik Sinner for a ticket to the final day.