Darren Cahill, Jannik Sinner’s Australian coach, has indicated that while Sinner is currently playing exceptional tennis at Roland-Garros, analytics suggest he has performed even better in the past. Sinner, the top-ranked player and the current Australian Open champion, is set to face the legendary Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals in Paris, an encounter scheduled for 3am Saturday (AEST). This match presents Sinner with an opportunity to advance to a final against either Carlos Alcaraz or Lorenzo Musetti.
The Italian has had the upper hand in their recent encounters, winning three consecutive matches against Djokovic, including a semi-final victory at the 2024 Australian Open. Sinner’s record against Djokovic stands at 4-4, yet he is 15 years Djokovic’s junior, with the Serbian at 38 years of age.
Throughout his journey to the semi-finals at Roland-Garros, Sinner has not dropped a single set, and fellow player Alexander Bublik noted the overwhelming nature of Sinner’s performance, stating that he felt the Italian was “from another dimension.” Despite recognising Sinner’s impressive form at the tournament, Cahill refrained from declaring it as his best tennis ever, recalling Sinner’s solid performance the previous year, where he narrowly lost in the semi-finals.
According to Cahill, Sinner has improved in certain areas, hitting harder with more spin and greater accuracy, which suggests he has never played better on clay. However, he emphasized that Sinner is still refining his game, having not participated in any tournaments for four months leading into Roland-Garros. Nonetheless, his efficiency during the tournament has been notable, allowing him to enter the semi-finals with ample energy.
As for Djokovic, he progressed to the semi-finals after a challenging quarter-final that required four sets. Djokovic has had a mixed season with early exits in several tournaments, yet he has performed strongly in Paris, losing only one set. He acknowledged the mental boost from winning his 100th career title before the tournament, and expressed confidence in his ability to compete at the highest level, especially in high-stakes matches.
Both players are formidable competitors, with Djokovic recognising Sinner’s remarkable form and recent successes. As they prepare to face off in this high-profile encounter, the match promises to be a thrilling display of elite tennis.