Jannik Sinner sends message to Novak Djokovic on social media after beating him in French Open semi-final

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Jannik Sinner took to the court against Novak Djokovic, looking to advance to his first French Open final.

The ATP world number one had been dominant en route to the last four, winning his opening five matches without dropping a set.

Facing his toughest test yet, Sinner passed with flying colors, beating the 24-time Major champion, 6-4, 7-5, 7-6.

In doing so, Sinner advanced to the Roland Garros final, where he’ll take on Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, who beat Lorenzo Musetti in the earlier semi-final.

Taking to social media after his semi-final win, Sinner sent a message to Djokovic.

Jannik Sinner tells Novak Djokovic he is a ‘true inspiration’ after beating him at Roland Garros.

The reigning Australian and US Open champion took to X to share his thoughts on his Serbian opponent.

“What a night yesterday,” he said.

“Big respect to Novak Djokovic – it’s always an honour to share the court with you. You are a true inspiration.”

Sinner then looked ahead to Sunday’s championship match against Alcaraz.

“Reaching the final means a lot to me, Paris is such a special place,” he said.

“See you tomorrow! Merci.”

The Italian scored his fourth consecutive win against Djokovic in the Roland Garros semi-finals, as he begins to take charge of their rivalry.

Sinner now leads the head-to-head 5-4, having lost their first three meetings.

Sinner will now turn his attentions towards Alcaraz and the French Open final, where he’ll look to pick up his second Grand Slam title of 2025.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner put their unbeaten Major final records on the line in Paris

Between them, Alcaraz and Sinner have contested seven Grand Slam finals, winning all of them.

Someone’s unbeaten record is going to have to go on Sunday, as the pair battle it out for supremacy in the French capital.

Defending champion Alcaraz will likely be considered a slight favorite for the match, thanks to his recent dominance over the world number one.

Sinner hasn’t beaten Alcaraz in any of their previous four ATP Tour matches, losing to him in a ‘big’ clay final just 20 days ago.

At the Italian Open, Alcaraz beat Sinner in straight sets, 7-6, 6-1, to extend his head-to-head lead over the 23-year-old to 7-4.

Alcaraz has also won their sole previous meeting at the French Open, taking Sinner down in a five-set classic in the 2024 semi-finals.

With that in mind, it certainly looks as if Sinner will be up against it, as he tries to keep his Calendar Grand Slam dream alive.

Jannik Sinner’s Calendar Grand Slam campaign

To complete the Calendar Grand Slam, a player must win all four Majors in a single year.

In the history of men’s tennis, just three players have accomplished the feat, the last of which did so 56 years ago.

• 1938 – Don Budge completed the Calendar Grand Slam
• 1962 – Rod Laver completed the Calendar Grand Slam
• 1969 – Rod Laver completed the Calendar Grand Slam (Open Era)

The man Sinner beat in the semi-finals came mightily close to joining Rod Laver and Don Budge in 2021, when he won 27 of the 28 matches required to complete the Calendar Grand Slam.

Unfortunately for Djokovic, he fell at the final hurdle, losing to Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the final of the US Open.

If Sinner were to beat Alcaraz on Sunday, he’d be halfway there, securing win number 14 of 28.

There’s a long way to go, however, and Sinner will no doubt want to focus on the task at hand before looking ahead to Wimbledon and the US Open.

Sinner and Alcaraz will face off for the French Open title on Sunday, June 7.