Sinner, 23, and Djokovic, 38, have split their eight meetings, but the Italian has won four of the last five matches to signal the undeniable power shift in men’s tennis.

Sinner is riding a 19-match winning run at Grand Slams as he chases a third successive major title, looking to go a step further at Roland Garros than last year’s semi-final loss to Alcaraz in five sets.

“(Djokovic) has shown now in the last period that he is back to the level,” said Sinner.

“It’s going to be… very, very difficult. He’s such an experienced player, 24 Grand Slams. I think that says everything.”

A week before Roland Garros, Djokovic had not won a single match on clay this year.

But after capturing his 100th ATP title in Geneva and arriving at the French Open battle-tested, the Serbian has steadily hit his stride.

The three-time Roland Garros champion is two wins away from a record-breaking 25th major to move him out in front of Margaret Court, but he is aware of the magnitude of the task ahead.

“Jannik is in tremendous form, and he has been the best player for the last couple of years,” said Djokovic.

“There is no bigger occasion for me… I just hope that I will be able to physically keep up.”

Djokovic could become the first man to beat the world’s top three players en route to a Grand Slam title after defeating third-ranked Zverev in the last eight.