Djokovic into French last four with 23rd slam in sight

Novak Djokovic has overcome a first-set blip to beat Karen Khachanov 4-6 7-6 (7-0) 6-2 6-4 and reach the French Open semi-finals, staying on course for a record-breaking 23rd men’s singles Grand Slam title.

The twice-Roland Garros champion could not find a weakness in the 11th-seeded Khachanov’s serve at first, but once he took the second set tiebreak there was no looking back for the Serbian.

He will be closely watching Tuesday’s night match between world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz and fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, whose winner will be the last man standing between him and a seventh French Open final.

On court Philippe Chatrier the 36-year-old did not have a single break opportunity and looked a tad slow in the opening set, but his metronomic game eventually clicked and there was little the Russian could do to stop his opponent’s march into the last four.

“He was the better player for most of the first two sets, I was struggling to find my rhythm, I came into this a bit sluggish,” Djokovic said.

“Then I played a perfect tiebreak and from that moment onwards I played a couple of levels higher.

“He has a big serve but maybe doesn’t move as well so I tried to expose him and played unpredictable. It was a big fight but that’s what you expect from a grand slam quarter-final.”

Khachanov broke Djokovic’s serve to lead 3-2 and, although the world No.3 threatened in a 10-minute ninth game, the Russian held and went on to pocket the set.

There were no break points in the second set but Khachanov started to struggle, failing to score a point in the tiebreak as Djokovic levelled the contest.

Djokovic got the early break thanks to a netcord in the third and stole Khachanov’s serve again to move one set from victory with apparent ease.

The Serbian broke again early in the fourth set, only to serve a double fault that allowed Khachanov to level for 4-4 and keep his slim hopes of an upset alive.

But he was broken to love in the following game, losing eight points in a row as Djokovic ended the contest with an ace.