Sinner sets up Alcaraz French Open final with victory over Djokovic

PARIS: Jannik Sinner will face Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final after ending Novak Djokovic’s latest tilt at a record-breaking 25th Grand Slam title in the last four on Friday.
The world number one held off a battling Djokovic with an impressive 6-4, 7-5, 7-6 (7/3) win on Court Philippe Chatrier to reach his first Roland Garros final.
“It was such a special occasion for me playing against Novak in the semifinal,” said the three-time Grand Slam champion, who is now on a 20-match winning streak in majors.
“I had to step up and play the best tennis I could.

I’m very happy.”
Djokovic battled hard in a dramatic contest that lasted three hours and 16 minutes, but three missed set points late in the third set ultimately put paid to his hopes of a comeback.
Sinner, who is yet to drop a set in the tournament, will be hoping to gain revenge on Alcaraz after losing to the Spaniard in five sets in the semifinals last year.
The Italian will be playing in a maiden Slam final not on hard courts after edging 5-4 ahead in his head-to-head record with Djokovic with his fourth successive victory over the 38-year-old.
Djokovic’s exit ensures that a sixth successive major title will be lifted by either Sinner or world number two Alcaraz, in what appears increasingly likely to be a permanent changing of the guard.
It will be the first Grand Slam final to be played between two men born in the 2000s.
Alcaraz has won his last four matches against Sinner, including in the Italian Open final in May when Sinner returned from a three-month doping ban.
“Sunday is going to be very difficult, I know my head-to-head lately doesn’t look great against Carlos but let’s see what I can do,” said the 23-year-old.
Djokovic was bidding to become the