Novak Djokovic outlasts Alexander Zverev to reach French Open semis - ESPN

PARIS — For 41 strokes, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev went back and forth in a crucial rally during the fourth set of their French Open quarterfinal Wednesday.

After smacking a forehand winner, Djokovic stayed in place afterward, breathing heavily, hands on hips, scanning the standing ovation from thousands of Court Philippe Chatrier spectators.

The 38-year-old Djokovic, the No. 6 seed, proved too much for No. 3 seed Zverev, who is a decade younger and was last year's runner-up at Roland Garros, winning 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 to set up a semifinal showdown against No. 1 Jannik Sinner on Friday.

It was Djokovic's 101st victory at Roland Garros, site of his Olympic gold medal victory last year at the Paris Games, and it took 3 hours, 17 minutes.

He's now two wins from becoming the first player — male or female — to win 25 Grand Slam singles trophies.

«Obviously there was a lot of tension [and] pressure, but it is normal when you play against Zverev,» Djokovic said in a postmatch interview. "… My game is based on a lot of running. I am 38 years old. It is not easy to keep running like that but, OK, it works."

The defining 41-stroke rally arrived more than 2½ hours into the match. Djokovic led 3-2, but Zverev was in possession of a break point and a chance to get back into Wednesday's match.

Djokovic, after erasing the break point, won the game to take a 4-2 lead in the fourth set.

He might have slogged through a pair of three-match losing skids this season and slid to No. 6 in the rankings, but Djokovic hasn't lost his determination or his ability to be his best on big stages.

No one has spent more weeks at No. 1 in the rankings than Djokovic. No one has won more major championships or reached more major semifinals than