Highlights: Sinner sinks Djokovic in straight sets to reach final at Roland-Garros
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Since the beginning of 2024, Djokovic has been searching for the 25th Grand Slam title that would see him edge ahead of his joint-record with Margaret Court. Some may question how much Djokovic actually values this particular feat. After all, his 24 majors are the most won by any man and by any man or woman in the Open Era.
But the fact Djokovic is still pushing for the biggest honours when he turns 39 on May 22, proves he is still chasing more history. And an intriguing opportunity has presented itself on the Parisian clay later this month.
TNT Sports is the exclusive French Open broadcaster in the UK and Ireland. Coverage of every court will be available to stream live on HBO Max.Key absences for French Open
On Wednesday, world No. 10 and semi-finalist at last year’s French Open, Lorenzo Musetti, announced he would miss the clay-court major through injury.
“After yesterday’s match, I underwent medical examinations which revealed a rectus femoris injury, requiring several weeks of rest and recovery,” Musetti wrote on Instagram. 
Watch the best moments of Nadal’s moving tribute at Roland-Garros
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“Unfortunately, this means I won’t be able to compete in Hamburg and Roland Garros – news that is incredibly hard to take.
“A huge thank you to the Rome crowd for your incredible support. That’s exactly why, despite not being 100%, I chose to step on court and give everything I had in my home tournament. I’ll keep you updated.”
The Italian’s absence could be a significant one. He was two sets ahead of Djokovic in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January before dramatically retiring from the match through injury. 
Watch dramatic moment Musetti retires when leading Djokovic by two sets
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Musetti joins world No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz in missing the French Open – ensuring the wait for a first ‘Sincaraz’ major final of the year will prolong until at least Wimbledon.
Alcaraz announced last month that a wrist injury would prevent him from defending his title in Paris, opening up the draw for a challenger to Jannik Sinner, who is looking stronger than ever before on clay.Meanwhile, Jack Draper will be missing from the draw and is expected to make his first Grand Slam appearance of the season at Wimbledon – where Andy Murray will be in his coaching entourage.
Alexander Zverev, the world No. 3 hunting his maiden major title, is an unknown quantity with lingering back issues, and in-form home favourite Arthur Fils underwent a scare after retiring from his Italian Open first-round match with a hip issue.
Highlights: Fils battles past Vacherot to reach Miami quarters
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The 21-year-old only returned from a back stress fracture in February and won the Barcelona title in April before reaching the Madrid Open semi-finals.
Widespread fitness concerns appear to open up the draw favourably for Djokovic, who has not exited a major before the semi-final stage since the US Open in 2024.
Could unideal preparations wreck his chances?
While all the above could lean in Djokovic’s favour, it must also be recognised that his preparations for the French Open have been far from ideal.
He has played just two tournaments since his Australian Open final defeat to Alcaraz: Indian Wells, where he was eliminated by Draper in the last 16, and the Italian Open, in which he exited at the first hurdle to Dino Prizmic.
The Serbian has been nursing a shoulder injury in recent months but appeared unwell during the defeat in Rome and confessed that playing just one match on clay before the French Open was not his desired way to prepare for the tournament.
Watch best shots from men’s final between Alcaraz and Djokovic
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“Not an ideal preparation, to be honest,” Djokovic said. ”I don’t recall the last time in the last couple years [I had] a preparation where I didn’t have any kind of physical issues or health issues coming into the tournament. There’s always something. Kind of a new reality that I have to deal with.
”Yeah, it is frustrating. At the same time it’s my decision to still perform in that kind of state and conditions. It is what it is.”
But it must also be recognised that Djokovic did not play a single competitive match between the turn of the year and his run to the Australian Open final – where he arguably played his best tennis in years.
Djokovic withdrew from the Adelaide International – which took place just a week before the Melbourne event – saying he was “not physically ready” to compete.
He went on to enjoy his best run at a Grand Slam since Wimbledon 2024 – and with his semi-final victory over Sinner, produced one of his most miraculous performances of all-time.
Sinner’s dominance cannot be ignored
It has been an unprecedented few months of dominance for Sinner and his transition to clay – which was never previously considered among his better surfaces – has been faultless.
The Italian has not lost a match since February 19, when he fell in three sets to Jakub Mensik in Doha. He has since swept up the Indian Wells, Miami Open, Monte Carlo Masters and Madrid Open titles.
He could well take another ATP 1000 crown – one which would complete his set – in his homeland. He faces Andrey Rublev in the Italian Open quarter-finals on Thursday.
Sinner is shattering a slew of records with his impressive charge. By reaching the Madrid Open final, he became the youngest man to reach the final of all nine ATP 1000 events – the tournaments that sit one rung below Grand Slams.
Highlights: Alcaraz overpowers Sinner in classic Roland-Garros final
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Should he lift the title in Rome on Sunday, he would become just the second man to have won all nine titles – alongside Djokovic.
Sinner and Alcaraz dominated last year’s majors, contesting three of the four finals.
And the scary part is Sinner – despite undergoing a relentless schedule – does not seem to be physically hampered at all heading into the French Open later this month.
So while the ailing men’s draw could be viewed as the title presenting itself for Djokovic, it could just as well be offering itself up for Sinner, who would complete the career Grand Slam if victorious in Paris.
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