Jannik Sinner explains what he finds so ‘stressful’ about facing Novak Djokovic, ‘he makes you feel that’

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Jannik Sinner may have recorded a straight-sets victory over Novak Djokovic last night, but it was anything but easy.

After all, the world number one had to fight long and hard for each set he won, suffering just a sole break in the first two sets before losing the deciding third on a tiebreak.

Inarguably, the 38-year-old pushed Sinner harder than anyone else had managed previously at the French Open, which is a testament to his continued ability to compete at the apex of the sport.

Alas, Djokovic has admitted to considering retirement, suggesting that he may have played his final match at this event.

To see him depart tennis would be devastating for many, not least when he has just proven that he can still compete at such a high level. Jannik Sinner certainly found the match a struggle.

Jannik Sinner explains what it’s like playing Novak Djokovic

Speaking at his post-match press conference, Sinner sought to articulate exactly how hard it is to face a player of Novak Djokovic’s calibre and intensity.

He admitted: ‘It’s stressful, no? Playing against Novak and the best players in the world, you don’t get moments when you can relax.

‘He makes you feel that, he makes you wait, in a way that you have to play your best tennis you can because he can change gears so fast.

‘One point and then he gets the energy and things could have gone very quickly in the other way too.

‘But there is a lot of stress, it’s important to calm down and take your time, and it’s important to understand the moments of the match, which I think today I did very well. The mental part was in a good spot today. But it’s always very stressful.’

Jannik Sinner’s head-to-head record vs Carlos Alcaraz

In defeating Djokovic, Sinner has set up the final showdown that the bulk of the tennis community was craving. He will face Carlos Alcaraz for the French Open title this Sunday.

However, his form in this fixture has not been great, meaning he will have to snap a four-match losing streak if he is to claim his maiden Grand Slam on the Parisian clay this weekend.

This run of victories for the Spaniard has seen him extend his head-to-head record against Sinner to seven wins and just four losses, but they have shared some great battles that could have gone either way.

At this same event last year, they played out a five-set epic which saw the world number two twice come from behind to win.

Then, most recently it was Alcaraz who won their final in Rome, albeit there was a caveat given it was Sinner’s first tournament back after a three-month suspension.

They have contested finals before, but none as important as Sunday’s. If it’s worth anything, their only final fought on clay came back in 2022, which saw Sinner win the Umag title.

Alcaraz will be hoping to retain his Roland Garros crown this Sunday whilst also ending his great rival’s winning run in Grand Slam finals.