A mammoth battle awaits as Sinner takes on Djokovic for a spot in the French Open final!
The second of the men’s semi-finals on Friday, June 06, at Roland Garros is a blockbuster affair between two heavyweights of the game going toe-to-toe as world number 1 Jannik Sinner takes on the 24-time Grand Slam Champion, Novak Djokovic.
This match is of epic proportions as Sinner is chasing his first-ever French Open crown, while Djokovic is aiming for his fourth and record-extending 25th Grand Slam. The stakes couldn’t be higher, and the euphoria couldn’t be greater.
World number one, Sinner, continues his strong season with still only 1 loss to his name. Since his return to the tour last month in Rome, the Italian hasn’t missed a beat and has looked quite comfortable on the clay.
He entered Roland Garros with a 12-1 record and has sailed past the competition without dropping a set thus far. Sinner has been outstanding this year on his serve, hitting 72 aces against just 22 double faults. He has won 76% of his points on first serve, while saving 68% of break point chances.
Number 6 seed, Djokovic, has struggled a bit this year with just one title under his belt heading into Paris. Yet, he did compile a 16-7 record before the French Open, and powered through the first four rounds with easy straight-set wins. The Serb dropped just one set against the mighty Alexander Zverev in the quarter-final in what was expected to be a long five-set match.
The 3-time winner at Roland Garros has hit 172 aces this year and has just 42 double faults. He has saved nearly 60% break point chances and has held serve 88% of the time. On returns, Djokovic has converted 41% of his 156 break point opportunities.
| Jannik Sinner | Category | Novak Djokovic |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | Aces | 172 |
| 22 | Double Faults | 42 |
| 76% | 1st Serve Points Won | 77% |
| 47 | Break Points Faced | 79 |
| 68% | Break Points Saved | 59% |
| 164 | Service Games Played | 273 |
| 91% | Service Games Won | 88% |
| 116 | Break Point Opportunities | 156 |
| 45% | Break Points Converted | 41% |
| 159 | Return Games Played | 265 |
| 33% | Return Games Won | 24% |
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Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have met 8 times on tour prior to their semi-final clash at Roland Garros today. The head-to-head between the two stands evenly poised at 4-4, with both players knowing the ins and outs of their opponent’s games.
The pair’s rivalry started in 2021 at Monte-Carlo, which interestingly has been their first and only meeting on clay until today. Djokovic took an early 3-0 lead in the head-to-head, but Sinner has recently clawed back to win their last 3 meetings. Most of the duo’s encounters have come in the latter stages of tournaments, including the quarters, semis, and finals.
| Year | Event | Round | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ATP Masters 1000 Shanghai | Final | Jannik Sinner | 7-6(4), 6-3 |
| 2024 | Australian Open | Semifinal | Jannik Sinner | 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3 |
| 2023 | Davis Cup Finals | Semifinal | Jannik Sinner | 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 |
| 2023 | Nitto ATP Finals | Final | Novak Djokovic | 6-3, 6-3 |
| 2023 | Nitto ATP Finals | Round Robin | Jannik Sinner | 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) |
| 2023 | Wimbledon | Semifinal | Novak Djokovic | 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) |
| 2022 | Wimbledon | Quarterfinal | Novak Djokovic | 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 |
| 2021 | ATP Masters 1000 Monte-Carlo | Round of 32 | Novak Djokovic | 6-4, 6-2 |
At this stage of their respective careers, both are at opposite ends of the line, despite both players being top players on tour. Sinner has already won 3 Grand Slams and 19 titles, and will be one of the top players on the men’s circuit for several years to come.
However, Djokovic is currently the best of the best, having won everything there is to win in the sport. He is the leading major-winner in men’s singles, the player with the most Masters titles, and won the Olympic Gold in singles in Paris last year.
| Jannik Sinner | Category | Novak Djokovic |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ranking | 6 |
| 751-81 | Career W-L | 1140-229 |
| 17-1 | YTD W-L | 21-7 |
| 19 | Career Titles | 100 |
| 3 | Grand Slams | 24 |
| 1 | YTD Titles | 1 |
With the way both players are playing currently, this match could go either way. Having said that, Sinner has been on a consistently high level for the past year or so, and has improved his game on clay as well. The urge to make his first final at Roland Garros will be huge, but so far, his path to the semis hasn’t been the toughest.
Djokovic, on the other hand, has picked up his game recently, with a win in Geneva just before the French Open. But the Serb has a long history in Paris, and his three titles are a testament to his ability to win here. With a splendid win over Zverev in the quarters, Djokovic has proved that he is still the man to beat for the younger generation.
Prediction: Sinner in five
The betting odds are quite heavily tilted towards the world number 1, who is favored by a big margin. The reason is evident, Sinner is on a whole different level, dispatching opponents with his game with relative ease. Nevertheless, betting against Djokovic has always been a challenge, as evidenced by numerous instances in the past.
Jannik Sinner Win: 2/9
Novak Djokovic Win: 17/5
(According to BetMGM)
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