PARIS — Even after securing his 100th career title in Geneva just before the French Open began, few observers initially considered Novak Djokovic a clear favorite to win at Roland Garros this year at the age of 38.
However, his recent 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 quarterfinal victory over Alexander Zverev on Wednesday has significantly boosted the Serbian`s standing in the championship race.
The holder of 24 Grand Slam titles has now reached a remarkable 51st Grand Slam semifinal. He skillfully outplayed and outmaneuvered Zverev, effectively moving past the memory of their previous encounter at the Australian Open in January, where Djokovic retired due to injury after the first set of their semifinal match.
Novak Djokovic defeated Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at the French Open.
Although Djokovic is set to face world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the semifinals on Friday, he has only dropped one set throughout the tournament so far. The impressive comeback against Zverev suggests he possesses a strong chance of reaching yet another final in Paris.
Here’s a look at what happened on Wednesday and its potential implications.
Djokovic`s Serve Proves Effective After Early Stumble
Djokovic started the match by losing his opening service game, prompting him to change rackets. While Zverev held onto the early break, Djokovic initially struggled, landing only 52% of his first serves in that set. However, that proved to be the only time his serve was broken in the entire match.
From the second set onwards, the Serbian found his rhythm. He frequently served out wide from the deuce court. With Zverev often positioned deep behind the baseline, Djokovic was even able to successfully employ serve-and-volley tactics multiple times, cutting off returns effectively at the net.
In the second set, Djokovic significantly improved his first serve percentage to 76%. In the third set, this increased further to 78%, where he won 13 out of 14 points on his serve and conceded only two service points overall. In contrast, Zverev faced difficulties, especially on his second serve, winning just 33% of those points in the second set and a mere 20% in the third. By the fourth set, Djokovic maintained a high first serve percentage of 77%, even saving a crucial break point at 3-2 with a grueling 41-shot rally.
Variety, Including the Drop Shot, Disrupts Zverev
Djokovic used a drop shot on the very first point of the match, and although he lost that specific point, the drop shot became an increasingly vital component of his strategy as the encounter progressed.
While Zverev preferred engaging in powerful baseline exchanges, from the end of the first set, Djokovic moved closer to the baseline and began dictating play. He expertly varied the pace using slice and drop shots to near perfection.
Overall, Djokovic hit 35 drop shots. Even when they weren`t outright winners, they either helped him win the subsequent point or created indecision in Zverev`s mind, contributing to the German`s unraveling. Despite Zverev`s attempt to rally in the fourth set, Djokovic maintained his focus and high level of play to secure the victory.
Can He Truly Win a Fourth Title at Roland Garros?
Winning the title from here presents a significant challenge. Having overcome world No. 3 Zverev, Djokovic now faces world No. 1 Jannik Sinner in the semifinal. Should he advance, he would likely face world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in the final, unless Lorenzo Musetti achieves a major upset.
No male player has ever defeated the world`s top three ranked players consecutively to win a Grand Slam title, so the odds are historically against him. While nothing seems to motivate Djokovic more than being told he cannot achieve something, Sinner has won their last three encounters. Overcoming the Italian – and potentially Alcaraz in the final – represents a monumental task.
