Three-time champion Novak Djokovic has kept up his quest for a record-breaking 25th major singles title, advancing to the French Open semifinals where he will face top seed Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic won his quarterfinal against third seed Alexander Zverev, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

The 38-year-old Serbian notched his 101st victory at Roland-Garros after three hours and 17 minutes.

Earlier, Sinner booked his spot in the last four with a 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 win over Kazakh Alexander Bublik.

"Obviously there was a lot of tension, pressure but it is normal when you play against Zverev, one of the best in the world, in the last five or six years," Djokovic said in a post-match 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, okay, it works.

"A match like the one this evening is the biggest reason why I continue playing and competing at this level."

Zverev, last year's finalist who is still searching for his first major title, started out strongly and broke Djokovic in the first game of the match.

The German held on to that advantage to claim the first set.

Knowing he could not match his 28-year-old opponent for fitness, Djokovic tried to keep the rallies as short as possible.

He played more drop shots — 35 in total — to force the taller Zverev to the net.

Djokovic broke his opponent at 2-1 in the second set and was quickly 4-1 up before Zverev had any time to react.

He secured the second set with yet another drop shot.

Djokovic broke Zverev twice more to win the third set with his opponent running out of steam.

Another break at the very start of the fourth set put Djokovic 2-0 up and firmly on the winning track before he wrapped it up on his fifth match point to reach a record-extending 51st major semifinal.

Reuters