In what is undeniably the match of the round, Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic clash for the 14th time on the ATP Tour in Wednesday's French Open quarter-final.
Zverev, who has reached the last four for four consecutive years in Paris, seeks to extend that run by ousting the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who has not dropped a set on his way to a 19th quarter-final at the major.
Match preview
© Iconsport
Having anticipated a drawn-out encounter with Tallon Griekspoor on Monday, the Dutchman retired injured midway through set two, allowing world No. 3 Zverev to advance to yet another last-eight match in the French capital.
Zverev had not been eliminated before the quarters since his fourth-round loss to Jannik Sinner in 2020 and has participated in three semi-final battles and one title match in the past four years, falling to Carlos Alcaraz 12 months ago.
Chasing a fifth consecutive semi-final appearance in Paris, the three-time Grand Slam finalist aims to improve his 38-9 record at the tournament at Djokovic's expense.
Having never defeated the Serbian in a completed Grand Slam match — the Serb retired after the opening set in Australia this year — the 24-time ATP champion intends to snap the Geneva champion's eight-match winning streak.
A prolonged slump following his Australian Open final disappointment meant that Zverev's chances entering the second Slam of the year were undermined, but the third seed could send a significant warning by defeating one of the pre-tournament contenders.
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Overcoming the three-time French Open champion will be an uphill challenge, particularly with the 38-year-old performing so clinically and efficiently.
Djokovic entered the clay season with the intention of peaking at the French Open, and his performances in dispatching Mackenzie McDonald, Corentin Moutet, Filip Misolic and Cameron Norrie en route to another quarter-final in Paris have underscored that ambition.
The three-time champion's reward for his 100th Roland Garros victory is a match against an opponent chasing a maiden Grand Slam victory, but the Serbian is unlikely to be in a mood to distribute gifts to the third seed aiming for another last-four match at the major.
Including his six victories at the Paris Olympics, the world No. 6 is currently on a 10-match winning streak at Roland Garros, highlighting his fondness for the clay in the French capital.
Having not lost a match on the clay courts of Paris since his quarter-final defeat to Rafael Nadal in 2022 — a knee injury forced Djokovic to withdraw 12 months ago — the sport's greatest player seeks his 101st win at this event to advance to this year's semi-final showdown with Sinner or Alexander Bublik.
Tournament so far
Alexander Zverev:
First round: vs. Learner Tien 6-3 6-3 6-4
Second round: vs. Jesper de Jong 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-3
Third round: vs. Flavio Cobolli 6-2 7-6(4) 6-1
Round of 16: vs. Tallon Griekspoor 6-4 3-0 ret
Novak Djokovic:
First round: vs. Mackenzie McDonald 6-3 6-3 6-3
Second round: vs. Corentin Moutet 6-3 6-2 7-6(1)
Third round: vs. Filip Misolic 6-3 6-4 6-2
Round of 16: vs. Cameron Norrie 6-2 6-3 6-2
Head To Head
Australian Open (2025) - Semi-final: Zverev 7-6(5) ret
Cincinnati Masters (2023) - Semi-final: Djokovic 7-6(5) 7-5
ATP Finals (2021) - Semi-final: Zverev 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3
US Open (2021) - Semi-final: Djokovic 4-6 6-2 6-4 4-6 6-2
Tokyo Olympics (2021) - Semi-final: Zverev 1-6 6-3 6-1
ATP Cup (2021) - Round Robin: Djokovic 6-7(3) 6-2 7-5
Australian Open (2021) - Quarter-final: Djokovic 6-7(6) 6-2 6-4 7-6(6)
ATP Finals (2020) - Round Robin: Djokovic 6-3 7-6(4)
Roland Garros (2019) - Quarter-final: Djokovic 7-5 6-2 6-2
ATP Finals (2018) - Final: Zverev 6-4 6-3
ATP Finals (2018) - Round Robin: Djokovic 6-4 6-1
Shanghai Masters (2018) - Semi-final: Djokovic 6-2 6-1
Rome Masters (2017) - Final: Zverev 6-4 6-3
Although Zverev claimed victory over Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-final after the Serbian's early retirement in January, the German has yet to defeat the 24-time majors champion in a completed Grand Slam match.
Djokovic won the 2019 Roland Garros quarter-final in straight sets, claimed the 2021 Aussie Open quarter-final in four sets, and clinched the 2021 US Open semi-final in five sets.
After splitting their first four meetings, the Serb then secured four straight wins in this matchup, leading 6-2; however, the German No. 1 has won three of the next five matchups and aims to achieve a fourth victory in six meetings against the 38-year-old.
Neither player has excelled against top-10 opponents this year, with Zverev entering Wednesday's contest on a two-match losing run to Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti, while the 100-time ATP champion holds a 1-1 record against the elite this season.
We say: Djokovic to win in five sets
Although Djokovic has won every Roland Garros match this year in straight sets, arguing for a similar outcome against a player of Zverev's calibre on clay would be misguided.
Having progressed through the draw without breaking a sweat, the Serb is likely to drop a set or two on Wednesday; however, we back the 38-year-old, unbeaten in a completed match in Paris since 2022, to progress to a 13th semi-final in the French capital.
