Sinner defeats Djokovic for place in French Open final

As Novak Djokovic departed Court Philippe-Chatrier after his defeat to World No 1 Jannik Sinner in the French Open semifinals, the 38-year-old stooped to lower his bags before turning to all four sides of the stadium.

- JAMIE BRAIDWOOD AT ROLAND GARROS

In a moment not dissimilar to Rafael Nadal’s final exit from Roland Garros in 2024, Djokovic paused and applauded the reception he had received. He then stopped again to brush the clay with his hand, an intimate gesture that may have revealed a clue to his future.

“This could have been the last match I played here, so I don't know,” Djokovic said. “That's why I was a bit more emotional even in the end. But if this was the farewell match of the Roland Garros for me in my career, it was a wonderful one in terms of the atmosphere and what I got from the crowd.”

Djokovic has rarely spoken about his career in such uncertain terms but, at the age of 38, there are no guarantees from here. He will play at Wimbledon and the US Open, giving himself at least two more attempts to claim a record 25th grand slam title and become the oldest grand slam champion in history. After that, Djokovic does not know what his future will be.

With Djokovic’s quest for more tennis history on hold, he was frustrated again by the younger generation, who now have the stage for themselves. Tomorrow, the 23-year-old Sinner will play the 21-year-old Carlos Alcaraz, the defending champion, for the Roland Garros title. It will be the first grand slam final between Sinner and Alcaraz, as well as the first men’s final contested between two players born in the 2000s, and it’s unlikely to be the last. The future is now.