Roland-Garros: Djokovic tames Zverev and will tackle Sinner in the semi-finals

The 38-year-old Serbian, who won three Roland-Garros titles (2016, 2021, 2023), defeated Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, after a duel that was initially indecisive, before turning in favor of the world number 6.

For his record 51st Grand Slam semi-final, "Djoko" will face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner on Friday and could then face Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (2nd) in the final, whom he beat at Porte d'Auteuil in the Olympic final last summer.

If he wins Sunday's final, the Serb would become the sole holder of the record for most Grand Slam victories, ahead of Australian Margaret Court, who also has 24.

Zverev had reached four consecutive semi-finals at Roland Garros and, at 28, has suffered another setback in his quest for his first Major title.

After a "less than optimal" preparation on clay, with only one title in Munich and a quarter-final in Rome as his best result in the Masters 1000, the German had reassured himself since the start of the tournament, only dropping one set to the Dutchman Jesper de Jong (88th).

But after a controlled first set, in which he dictated the tempo and tossed Djokovic around the court, the balance of power gradually shifted in favor of the Serb, who committed far fewer unforced errors than the German.

Trailing by a set against Zverev, just as he did four months ago in the Australian Open semi-finals, "Djoko" didn't give up this time. In Melbourne, he was forced to retire due to a torn muscle in his left thigh.

But since the start of the Parisian Grand Slam, Djokovic has been in full possession of his abilities and showed it again on Wednesday evening to get back into the game.

Drastically reducing his number of unforced errors in the second set (5 against 10 in the first), he quickly broke before holding his service games to equalize at one set each.

Faced with an increasingly apathetic Zverev, the former world No. 1 took the initiative and used his variety of shots, forcing the German to come and search for well-hit drop shots at the net several times.

Djokovic logically pocketed the third set where he committed only three unforced errors before continuing his march forward, breaking the Hamburg player's serve early in the fourth set.

Although Zverev had a break point at 3-2, the Serb definitively dashed his hopes of a comeback by dismissing him at the end of yet another marathon exchange of 41 shots, synonymous with a standing ovation for "Novak".