French Open 2025: ‘Knockdown v lockdown' mode: Why Novak Djokovic-Jannik Sinner semi-final at Roland-Garros 2025 will be ‘awesome’
Updated 05/06/2025 at 11:25 GMT+1
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Friday at Roland-Garros will see a mouthwatering battle between world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and the legendary Novak Djokovic in a bid to make the French Open final. Jim Courier has billed the match as "knockdown v lockdown", while Mats Wilander believes Djokovic will have to raise his game if he is to beat Sinner and keep his bid for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam alive.
Djokovic will 'have to find a different level' against 'rising great' Sinner
Video credit: TNT Sports
Jannik Sinner’s titanic battle with Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals of the French Open on Friday has been billed as "knockdown v lockdown" by Jim Courier.
Sinner breezed past Alexander Bublik 6-1 7-5 6-0 to make the last-four at Roland-Garros on Wednesday, before Djokovic dispatched Alexander Zverev in four sets.
It sets up a mouthwatering clash between Sinner - a rising force searching for his first Grand Slam on clay - and all-time great Djokovic, who is bidding for a record-extending 25th Grand Slam triumph.
"We know that Novak is famous for his lockdown mode, where he doesn’t miss. He puts up a wall of defence, almost always famously in the tie-breakers," explained Courier.
"But Jannik Sinner has developed his game to be knockdown mode. So, it’s knockdown v lockdown.
"Both of them can play offence, both of them can play defence, but it’s more innate for Sinner to play offensively.
"Djokovic came onto the tour and developed his offence; Sinner, I think, has been more offensive minded from the jump."
World No. 1 Sinner has met Djokovic eight times, winning the last three encounters between the pair, including a straight-sets victory in the final of the 2024 Shanghai Masters.
At 38, Djokovic has had to dismiss retirement suggestions at Roland-Garros, while Sinner can look confidently to the future.
But Courier insists tennis fans must savour occasions such as Friday, when the two go head to head.
"I cannot wait for this match," continued Courier.
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'I thrive on these occasions' - Djokovic 'locked in' ahead of Sinner semi-final
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I’m sorry for Sascha but my goodness how many more chances are we going to get to see Novak go up against Sinner or potentially [Carlos] Alcaraz?
"And I love that we get the context of his greatness versus their rise in greatness."
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Despite his outstanding performance against Zverev, TNT Sports expert Mats Wilander believes that Djokovic will need to raise his game to beat Sinner, who is yet to drop a set in Paris.
"He will have to find a different level, I think, a different game, maybe two," commented Wilander.
"You have to mix it up against Jannik Sinner, but I think that is a level up. Sinner plays a little bit faster than Zverev, he’s more confident, he moves better. I think he even has a better feel, but he doesn’t serve as good."
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Highlights: Djokovic beats Zverev in four sets to book semi-final spot
Video credit: TNT Sports
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