Djokovic sets up semifinal showdown with Sinner at Roland Garros

Three-time champion Novak Djokovic continues on his quest for a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title, after battling past third seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in the French Open quarterfinals on Wednesday.

With this victory, the 38-year-old Serbian improved to 9-5 against Zverev and reached a record-extending 51st Grand Slam semi-final.

"I think the very last game was tactical." said Djokovic, "I tried to play with my rhythm, with three to four drop shots. Maybe you can't see on TV, but there's a lot of wind at this side and it's really tough. Because of the feelings and sensations. And you have to hit harder on the ball. So that's kind of tricky. It didn't help so much. And I was a bit nervous with the pressure. I had a few things to manage. Very much business as usual with Zverev. It has been great the last five or six rounds and I wish him all the very best."

Djokovic arrived at Roland Garros fresh from winning his 100th tour-level title in Geneva, and is now on a nine-match winning streak.

With his 101st victory at the clay-court major, the former world No.1 set up a semi-final meeting with top seed Jannik Sinner, who eased past Alexander Bublik 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 to become the first Italian man in history to reach six major semifinals. The World No. 1 has won his past 19 matches at majors, having lifted trophies at the US Open and the Australian Open.

The 23-year-old is currently 17-1 this season and joins countryman Lorenzo Musetti in the last four. It is the first time in the Open Era that two Italian men have reached the semi-finals in the same Grand Slam.

"Against this kind of player, you have to be consistent because if you make a lot of mistakes, it is a game where if we both serve very well, there is already not so many rallies. I tried to get rhythm with the rallies," Sinner said on his win against Bublik. "I am very happy and happy with how I arrived in the semifinals. Semifinals in Grand Slams are very special, so I am looking forward to it."

Meanwhile, France's Lois Boisson became the first wildcard to reach the women's singles semifinals at Roland Garros on Wednesday.

Two days after upsetting World No. 3 Jessica Pegula, and in her first match against a Top 20 opponent, Boisson defeated No. 6 seed Mirra Andreeva 7-6(6), 6-3. The Dijon native is also the first French semifinalist at Roland Garros since Marion Bartoli in 2011.

The world No. 361 will face No. 2 seed Coco Gauff next, who recovered after missing a set point in the opener to defeat fellow American Madison Keys 6-7(6), 6-4, 6-1 in 2 hours and 11 minutes. The 2022 runner-up reached the Roland Garros semifinals for the second straight year.