In a gripping quarterfinal clash at the 2025 French Open, Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3, fell to Novak Djokovic in a four-set battle on Court Philippe-Chatrier, ending his hopes of capturing a maiden Grand Slam title in Paris. The 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 defeat marked Zverev’s second loss to Djokovic at Roland Garros, following their 2019 encounter, and halted his run of four consecutive semifinal appearances at the tournament. In a candid post-match press conference, Zverev offered a blunt assessment of Djokovic’s performance, marveling at the 38-year-old’s enduring brilliance while grappling with his own inability to counter the Serbian’s tactical genius. “What do you want me to say? He’s won 24 of these things,” Zverev said, acknowledging Djokovic’s 24 Grand Slam titles. “I felt like I didn’t know how to win a point from the baseline against him at some point.”
The match, played under windy conditions, began with Zverev seizing control, breaking Djokovic’s serve early to claim the first set 6-4. His booming serve and powerful groundstrokes, honed during a strong clay season that included a Munich title and a Rome quarterfinal, initially overwhelmed the three-time Roland Garros champion. Zverev won 17 of 18 first-serve points in the opener, showcasing his improved consistency. However, Djokovic, fresh off his 100th career title in Geneva, adapted masterfully. “Especially during the last game, my tactic was just to play drop shots,” Djokovic revealed, noting how he hit 35 drop shots, 30 of which won points, to disrupt Zverev’s rhythm. “Maybe you can’t see it on TV, but there is a lot of wind from one side, so it gives the sensation that you must hit twice as hard.”
From the second set onward, Djokovic’s tactical versatility took over. He countered Zverev’s baseline power with deft drop shots and clinical volleys, dragging the German out of his comfort zone. A pivotal moment came in the fourth set, when Zverev, trailing 3-2, squandered a break point in a grueling 41-shot rally. Djokovic lured him to the net twice with drop shots before sealing the point with a cross-court forehand pass, leaving the crowd roaring. “I think at the moment he’s a bit underrated,” Zverev said of Djokovic, reflecting on the Serbian’s ability to raise his game despite a rocky clay season. “He’s still beating the best of the best.” Zverev’s own drop shot attempt in the third set landed halfway up the net, a moment he later called emblematic of his struggles. “The cold conditions blunted my power off the ground,” he admitted, frustrated by his inability to dictate from the baseline.
Zverev’s path to the quarterfinals had been relatively smooth, with straight-set wins over Learner Tien, Jesper De Jong, and Flavio Cobolli, followed by a walkover against Tallon Griekspoor. His 74.8% Grand Slam win rate, the highest among players without a major title, underscored his consistency, yet his 0-3 record in Slam finals—including losses to Jannik Sinner at the 2025 Australian Open and Carlos Alcaraz at the 2024 French Open—looms large. “For me, Carlos is the favourite,” Zverev had said before the tournament, placing himself alongside Djokovic and Sinner as contenders. Despite his confidence, Djokovic’s 9-5 head-to-head edge over Zverev, now 2-0 on Roland Garros clay, proved decisive.
Djokovic’s victory sets up a blockbuster semifinal against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who leads their recent encounters 3-0. Zverev, meanwhile, heads to the grass season, with the Stuttgart Open looming, where he’ll aim to rebound. His 2025 season, highlighted by a 24th ATP title in Munich and a return to world No. 2, shows his potential, but his post-match candor revealed a player wrestling with self-doubt against the sport’s elite. “We have great history in our rivalry, but I’m looking forward to the match, and it’s always a privilege to be on court with him,” Zverev had said pre-match, a sentiment now tinged with frustration.
At 28, Zverev’s youth gives him time to chase that elusive Slam, but Djokovic’s masterclass underscored the gap he must bridge. “He’s 10 years younger. He calls himself a veteran of the game. What should I call myself, then?” Djokovic joked, highlighting the age disparity. As Zverev exits Paris, his blunt admission—“I’m not a Novak Djokovic” []—echoes a career defined by near-misses against the sport’s titans, leaving fans wondering when he’ll finally break through.
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