Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that’s captured the public’s attention. The game is all about finding the “common threads between words.” And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we’ve served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.
If you just want to be told today’s puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today’s Connections solution. But if you’d rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.
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Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable
What is Connections?
The NYT‘s latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications’ Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.
Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there’s only one correct answer.
If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.
Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.
SEE ALSO:
NYT’s The Mini crossword answers for June 7
Here’s a hint for today’s Connections categories
Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:
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Connections: How to play and how to win
Here are today’s Connections categories
Need a little extra help? Today’s connections fall into the following categories:
Looking for Wordle today? Here’s the answer to today’s Wordle.
Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today’s puzzle before we reveal the solutions.
Drumroll, please!
The solution to today’s Connections #727 is…
What is the answer to Connections today
Tips for working out safely: BREATHE, HYDRATE, REST, STRETCH
Establish: FOUND, INSTITUTE, LAUNCH, START
Ditty: AIR, NUMBER, SONG, STRAIN
Spring ___: CHICKEN, EQUINOX, FLING, ONION
Don’t feel down if you didn’t manage to guess it this time. There will be new Connections for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we’ll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.
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NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for June 7
Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today’s Strands.
If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.
Not the day you’re after? Here’s the solution to yesterday’s Connections.
If men’s No. 1 Jannik Sinner wants to win his second Grand Slam title of the year, he’ll have to get past No. 6 Novak Djokovic first. Sinner, who won the Australian Open in January, will play 38-year-old Djokovic in the men’s semifinals at Roland-Garros on Friday, no sooner than 1 p.m. ET. The winner of Sinner vs. Djokovic will go on to face the winner of the other men’s semi between No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz and No. 8 Lorenzo Musetti in the final on Sunday.
In the U.S., coverage of this year’s tournament will air on TNT and truTV, and every match will air on HBO Max, here’s everything you need to know about how to watch Sinner vs. Djokovic.
How to watch Jannik Sinner vs. Novak Djokovic at the 2025 French Open:
Dates: Friday, June 6
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Time: 1 p.m. ET (estimated start time)
Location: Stade Roland-Garros
TV channel: TNT, truTV
Streaming: HBO Max
When is the Jannik Sinner vs. Novak Djokovic match at the 2025 French Open?
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic will meet in the men’s semifinal at the French Open on Friday, June 6 at approximately 1 p.m. ET.
2025 French Open channel:
The 2025 Roland-Garros tennis tournament, including today’s Sinner vs. Djokovic match, will air across TNT and truTV — with all matches streaming on Max.
How to watch the French Open without cable:
Disney
The Disney+, Hulu, Max bundle gets you exactly what it sounds like: access to Disney+, Hulu and Max. If you go ad-free ($29.99/month) you’ll save up to 38% off compared to individually paying for all three services — and gain access to all French Open coverage.
If you don’t already have access to these platforms, this is a great option that really covers your bases, streaming-wise. You’ll get access to three vast libraries, fully stocked with everything MCU, all those Disney princesses (new and old), Hulu’s robust catalog of shows on-demand the day after they air, including the latest episodes of Abbott Elementary, Grey’s Anatomy and more, and the most recent seasons of The Last of Us, The Pitt and White Lotus.
$29.99/month at Disney
How to watch the French Open with a VPN:
If you want to catch every match of the French Open and don’t currently subscribe to HBO Max or a live TV streaming service, in Australia a majority of the action is streaming free with ads on 9Now, and in Austria it’s all streaming free with ads on ServusTV.
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Don’t live in either of those places? Don’t worry, you can still stream like you do with the help of a VPN. A VPN (virtual private network) helps protect your data, can mask your IP address and is perhaps most popular for being especially useful in the age of streaming. Whether you’re looking to watch Friends on Netflix (which left the U.S. version of the streamer back in 2019) or tune in to next F1 race without a cable package, a VPN can help you out. Looking to try a VPN for the first time? This guide breaks down the best VPN options for every kind of user.
ExpressVPN offers “internet without borders,” meaning you can tune into an Austrian or Australian livestream this month as opposed to paying for another streaming subscription. All you’ll need to do is sign up for ExpressVPN, change your server location and then find free livestream coverage on 9Now or ServusTV.
ExpressVPN’s added protection, speed and range of location options make it an excellent choice for first-time VPN users looking to stretch their streaming abilities, plus, it’s Engadget’s top pick for the best streaming VPN. New users can save 61% when they sign up for ExpressVPN’s 2-year subscription. Plus, the service offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, in case you’re nervous about trying a VPN.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle celebrated daughter Princess Lilibet’s fourth birthday at Disneyland
Harry recreated a special moment by riding the same Disney attraction he enjoyed with his mother, Princess Diana, in 1993
Meghan shared several photos of the family trip on Instagram
Prince Harry revisited a special chapter from his childhood by taking his own family to Disneyland, recreating a magical moment he once shared with his late mother, Princess Diana.
Back in August 1993, an eight-year-old Harry, along with his older brother Prince William, then 11, enjoyed a private visit to Walt Disney World in Florida with Princess Diana. The trip, just months after Diana’s separation from her husband, Prince Charles, was a rare moment of joy and normalcy for the family.
The trio was treated to an exclusive ride on Splash Mountain, which was closed off to other guests. Diana and the boys were escorted through Disney’s secret underground tunnels for VIPs, accompanied by close friends and security.
A waiter at Flagler’s restaurant (now Citricos) in the Grand Floridian, recalled to PEOPLE, “They were all very nice, very well behaved. She was a sweetheart.”
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet at Disneyland.
Meghan Markle /Instagram
Fast forward 31 years to June 6, when Meghan Markle shared a video montage of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s family trip to Disneyland in Anaheim, California, celebrating their daughter Princess Lilibet’s fourth birthday, just two days after she turned four. Joining them was their son, Prince Archie, 6.
“Thank you @disneyland for giving our family two days of pure joy!” the Duchess of Sussex Meghan wrote on Instagram, with Peggy Lee’s “It’s a Good Day” playing in the background.
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The celebration included a detailed two-tiered birthday cake inspired by The Little Mermaid — a possible nod to Lilibet’s favorite (fellow red-headed!) Disney princess.
Prince Harry, Prince Archie and Meghan Markle at Disneyland.
Meghan Markle /Instagram
The post featured Meghan, Harry, Lilibet and Archie, all sporting Mickey Mouse ears. The family enjoyed several attractions, including the newly updated Splash Mountain, now known as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure since 2024.
They also stopped to meet Star Wars stormtroopers and Elsa from Frozen, while sampling classic park treats like corndogs and pickles.
Aryna Sabalenka has ended Iga Swiatek’s reign at Roland Garros.
World No. 1 Sabalenka defeated No. 5 seed Swiatek 7-6(1), 4-6, 6-0 in their French Open semifinal showdown on Thursday. Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam singles champion and two-time runner-up, is now into her first Grand Slam final off of hard court.
“I’m super happy with the win today and beating Iga at Roland Garros,” Sabalenka said, after her win. “It’s just something unbelievable and something I’m super proud of, and yeah, just happy to get through this difficult match.”
Roland Garros: Draws | Scores
Sabalenka took 2 hours and 19 minutes to snap four-time champion Swiatek’s 26-match winning streak at the event. Swiatek picked up her first title here in 2020, then won three in a row from 2022 to last year. Swiatek’s Roland Garros win-loss record now sits at 40-3.
But Sabalenka is definitively on top of the tour at this point, at WTA events as well as Grand Slams. Her victory over Swiatek was her tour-leading 40th main-draw win of this season, and she has won her last five Grand Slam semifinal matches.
Title hopes extended: After defeating this decade’s dominant force at Roland Garros, Sabalenka’s quest will continue for one more match. She will face Coco Gauff of the United States in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 final on Saturday.
Sabalenka and Gauff have a totally deadlocked head-to-head. They are 5-5 overall and 1-1 at Grand Slam events.
“[The semifinal] was a big match, and it felt like a final, but I know that the job is not done yet,” Sabalenka said. “I have to go out there on Saturday, and I have to fight and I have to bring my best tennis, and I have to work for that title, especially if it’s going to be Coco.”
Fast facts: This was only the second Grand Slam meeting between Sabalenka and Swiatek. Poland’s Swiatek pulled off a three-set win over Sabalenka in the 2022 US Open semifinals, en route to her one Grand Slam title off of clay.
Swiatek came into the match with a 5-1 head-to-head lead over Sabalenka on the Pole’s beloved clay courts, but this was the first year since 2020 that Swiatek came into Roland Garros without having won a clay-court title.
It was a different story for Sabalenka, who had already won three titles (including a third Madrid title on clay) and reached three other finals this year entering Paris. Now, she has reached six Grand Slam finals during the 2020s — one more than Swiatek.
“It’s going to mean everything to me and my team, because I have to say that almost like the whole life I’ve been told where [clay] is not my thing and then I didn’t have any confidence.
“And in the past I don’t know how many years, we’ve been able to develop my game so much, so I feel really comfortable on this surface and actually enjoy playing on clay. If I’ll be able to get this trophy, it’s just going to mean the world for us.”
Sabalenka is now the first woman to reach the singles final in three consecutive Grand Slam events (2024 US Open, 2025 Australian Open and French Open) since Serena Williams (Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon, all in 2016).
Match moments: The clash took place beneath a closed roof on a wet day in Paris, and in more controlled conditions, service returns became the story of the closely-contested first set. Sabalenka led by a double-break at 3-0 and served for the set at 6-5 — but Swiatek battled back both times. Both players were broken four times en route to a first-set tiebreak.
In the breaker, though, Sabalenka came up with some of her most overwhelming serves to supplement her return prowess; she fired an ace to change ends with a dominant 5-1 lead. On the next point, Swiatek misfired long on return to give Sabalenka five set points; the top seed needed only one to wrap up a hard-fought first set after an intense 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Three straight breaks opened the second set, but as quickly as they appeared, the service breaks dried up. Swiatek had the break lead at 2-1 and she held that advantage all the way through the rest of the set, as she flattened out her forehand and found better net play. Swiatek executed a love hold to level the match and keep her streak alive for at least one more set.
Swiatek’s hopes, though, were rapidly extinguished as Sabalenka took command in the third set. It was Sabalenka who doubled down on ferocious, flat forehands as she romped through the 22-minute decider. In the third set, Sabalenka went 3-for-3 on break points, hit five winners to Swiatek’s two, and was credited with zero unforced errors.
I’m an explorer at heart. Give me a big open world map and yes, I’ll harvest resources and craft gear and build a base—but what I really want to do is get out and see the world.
I’m about 10 hours into survival MMO Dune: Awakening, I’ve got a snug little base, a couple flasks of water, and a fully-fuelled sandbike, so I thought I’d do a bit of exploring today. I jumped on my bike, pointed myself toward the horizon, and floored it—and immediately got stuck in a massive pit of quicksand. Roadtrip cancelled!
Also: life cancelled. This was my first encounter with quicksand and it wasn’t exactly a surprise. I knew there were quicksand pits in the region because they’re very helpfully marked on the map. In fact, I opened my map to see where the quicksand was, which accomplished two things.
First, it showed me I had already driven directly into the middle of the quicksand, and second, it slowed me down because you can’t look at your map and maintain bike speed at the same time. Here, see it for yourself:
I might have made it if I hadn’t slowed down, but now I was properly stuck. I tried the only move I had: flooring my bike and chanting “No, no, no.” Strangely, that didn’t work. So, I continued doing it for about another twenty to thirty seconds, while slowly sinking deeper.
That’s when the sandworm appeared, breaching the dunes right behind me. I am terrified of sandworms because when they swallow you, they swallow all of your gear and you lose it forever.
It’s the worst way to die in Dune: Awakening: your bike, your weapons, your armor, everything you’ve got with you is permanently gone.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
So, I leapt into action… by continuing to floor it and chant “No, no, no.” Still didn’t work.
Finally, I had a bit of luck: my bike exploded and I was killed instantly! Hooray!
I know, it doesn’t sound like something to celebrate, but dying by exploding bike meant I wasn’t killed by the sandworm. I may have lost a few resources from my backpack, but I didn’t get swallowed, so I still had all my weapons and armor and tools.
Is that a viable strategy if you’re stuck in quicksand? Exploding? I’m not sure, but it’s all I’ve got to work with right now, and I was afraid if I jumped off and ran my boots would sink into the sand, too. My plan is to stop exploring and get to work on crafting an ornithopter so I can just fly over this scary desert instead of driving on top of it.
I did have to build a new bike, and I couldn’t collect my dropped items (I wouldn’t have tried anyway), but at least my lack of caution resulted in me happily dying in a vehicle explosion. Believe me, there are worse ways to go in Arrakis.
There’s an ineffable magic to seeing dragons come to life on the screen – a blend of myth and marvel that speaks to the child in all of us. Few stories have captured this magic as masterfully as DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon franchise, an adaptation of author Cressida Cowell’s best-selling book series. Since the debut of the first Dragon film in 2010, the trilogy has redefined animated storytelling through an extraordinary fusion of artistry and emotion. Beyond its acclaim and box-office success, the franchise has become a cultural phenomenon, transforming ancient mythology into a tale that connects deeply with our modern humanity. Now, as the saga is reimagined in live-action, it looks to expand that legacy, exploring new creative depths while making dragons feel more tangible than ever before.
At the creative helm is writer-director and three-time Oscar nominee Dean DeBlois, whose decade-long stewardship of How to Train Your Dragon represents a masterclass in pushing the boundaries of storytelling. And it was the original director overseeing this new iteration that enticed star Nick Frost, who takes over from Craig Ferguson’s vocal prowess as the human embodiment of Gobber, a quirky blacksmith who helps train the young Viking villagers to teeth their dragon-hunting skills.
As the film flies into theatres across the globe from June 12th in Australia, Peter Gray spoke with the actor about feeling safe in the live-action space, the wisdom he imparted on his younger co-stars, and which of his own back catalogue has he seen surprisingly embraced in the wake of streaming services.
It’s one of those great things with this iteration because, obviously, Dean helmed the animated version. So going into this version, because this franchise holds so much emotional weight for fans, did the legacy of that feel like a creative challenge? A responsibility? Or a bit of both? Or with Dean attached to it, there was pressure taken off?
I think it’s exactly that. No one’s a bigger fan than Dean, you know? No one loves it more. I was in a (session) yesterday with Dean, listening to him talk about it. He just loves it. I think he’s said before that remakes, or live action remakes, were lazy. He loves it so much that rather than let someone else mess it up, he decided to do it himself. I just think it’s really attractive to be around that kind of passion for a project. I think that took a lot of pressure off. What I was doing everyday was trying to impress Dean. I was trying to make sure Gobber worked. There’s definitely a responsibility, and I want to impressed Craig Ferguson in terms of what he did (in the original), because what he did was amazing. And people love that. People love Craig’s Gobber. I have to respect that as a performer, but I also find you have to unburden yourself from that, and that gives you a kind of freedom to reinvent Gobber.
As you said in wanting to impress Craig Ferguson, was it a case of really disconnecting yourself from him? Are you able to talk to Dean and say, “I want Gobber to say this”? How much collaboration is there to make Gobber feel more like Nick compared to Craig?
I think going into my first couple of meetings with Dean, (I) just wanted to hear what he thought, and that was important in taking a job like this. When he asks you want you want to do, and what you think, and I ask if he wants (this Gobber) to be Scottish, he told me that he likes my voice. He liked that rough cockney thing, and with that you kind of end up doing an impression of Ray Winstone (laughs). He loved it. So you kind of build, I think for me, the joy. If Dean had said in the meeting, “Hey, we made these really successful films, and Craig can’t do it. Could you do something a bit like Craig?”, I’d forgive (Dean) for saying that. But he didn’t say that at all. I think it says so much about his confidence in what he wrote. It’s attractive to have a voice to be able to say. I think a part of being in this business for 23 years, and making some of the things I’ve made, even if you have just a tiny voice on set, and that voice is, “Hey, I’ve written this line. Do you mind if we try it?” And they’re like, “100%?” That’s where I want to be.
Gobber is obviously a character to give advice. Working with so many younger actors, did you have to impart wisdom to anybody? Was there a leadership role taken on off-set as well?
You’re not a better actor just because you’re older, you know? They’re all wonderful actors, but I think there is a role I take on as an older actor, I think that it’s a responsibility to know my lines, turn up on time, if not early, and know everyone’s names on the crew. Be respectful to everyone. That’s my responsibility. In terms of being newer actors, they can look at someone who’s been around for 25 years and say, “Okay, that’s how we do it. That’s what professional looks like.”
Going off that and the advice side of things, have you found there was anybody that you worked with that gave you advice that stuck with you in any way?
I’ve been friends with Bill Nighy for about 250 years (laughs), since Shaun of the Dead. We just really like each other. Bill’s the person I turn to in terms of asking what he thinks. I think I’ve been quite stubborn and belligerent in terms of trying to learn my own lessons on a set. I never knew how to act, and I never wanted to act. I’ve learned on the job, in a way. And I think that’s really helped me. I listen a lot, you know? I think, for me, never wanting to be an actor means every department is as important as my department. A lot of my time on set is sat next to the camera team listening to a conversation about what depth of field is for a 35mm lens at eight feet. I love it. I love all that. That’s part of my joy as a filmmaker is to listen to the genius of every other department.
Universal Pictures
I was only having this conversation with someone recently, about working on film sets and that one of the greatest things for an actor to do is to learn what everybody’s job is. You gain a better understanding of what’s going on. It’s so great to hear that from you.
If I had to teach any young actor something, it would be to know what size lens you’re working on. If you’re giving 100% in a scene where you’ve lost your mum and you’re a tiny speck in a massive wide shot, it’s a waste of a performance. I’d say taper your performance to what lens you’re working on.
Talking about giving 100%, with Gobber, he has the arm and the leg, and all that. That would inform a lot of the performance. Did you find that physicality affected that? Does it immediately put you in a different mindset?
At the time of getting the job, I needed to have my left knee replaced. Then I got the job, and Dean told me not to have the operation (laughs). We’ll make Gobber’s left leg the one that’s missing, and we’ll use that natural limp for physicality. So when you see him limping around, that’s me. He’s a tough nut. He’s lost an arm and a leg. He’s a dragon fighter. He’s a drill sergeant. All those little things go towards that physicality.
Do you think about the kind of roles you’re drawn to? Aliens, zombies, dragons…is there something about being detached from reality with these genre films that speaks to you?
Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I think I’m lucky in that I work in the genres that I would watch when I’m at home. I love horror. I love alien films. I love anything with a robot or a bloody spaceship. I love dragons. I love Game of Thrones. I’m very lucky that I get to choose a genre to work in.
And one of the great things about this take on How to Train Your Dragon is that, for many audiences, this will be their first introduction to this world. Dean’s made something so faithful here, and it really shows how these stories can be tailored and evolve. Have you thought about the legacy that this film will take on?
Not now. I think maybe once we’ve done all three (films), then maybe a little bit. But while we’re still in it, and it’s still developing, and we’ll see more of Gobber in the second film. I always like to finish something and then give it a bit of space, and then maybe retroactively look at it and if it had an effect. It’s maybe not even my job to answer that, but I think about something like Doctor Who. It’s alright to love Tom Baker and Peter Davison, you know? It’s Doctor Who, but they’re different. It’s the same with this. It’s How to Train Your Dragon. It’s the same, but it’s different.
And as you spoke about retroactively looking at things, have you found with streaming and people discovering new films, there’s films of yours you’re surprised to see people talk about? Personally, Cuban Fury deserves a shot out.
Yeah, it happened here recently with Netflix in the States. They put Paul on, and it was suddenly like the number three movie on Netflix. Simon (Pegg) messaged me to say that we were number three, and asked if I was still alive (laughs). Did something happen for it to start trending? It was quite interesting that there were a lot of people wondering how the film went under the radar. It goes to show you the longevity of film and television. They’re there to be found at any point. I hate the phrase legacy, but it’s there for people to watch.
How to Train Your Dragon is screening in Australian theatres from June 12th, 2025, before opening in the United States on June 13th.
A major San Francisco Pride month tradition is celebrating its 30th year. The giant pink triangle displayed each year on the face of Twin Peaks is being installed for the 30th time.
On this milestone, one of the triangle’s co-founders said he believes the symbol’s message is more important now than ever.
Volunteers convened at Twin Peaks on Friday to build the pink outline for this year’s triangle, which spans about an acre. They faced the wind and overgrown poison oak plants as they installed pink sailcloth borders, which are 240 feet long and five feet wide.
Patrick Carney, who co-founded this tradition and still helps lead it today, said this step of creating the outline is necessary to prepare for the work Saturday, where around 800 volunteers will fill in the outline with 175 bright-pink tarps.
What started for Carney as a spontaneous project with friends has evolved into one of the most recognizable symbols of San Francisco’s Pride celebrations.
“We just wanted to add a little color to the Pride parade and spread it across town,” he recalled. “There’s a big blank canvas on Twin Peaks, so I thought, ‘Let’s put something up there.'”
“We put it up in the dark of night, just to have it appear — sort of anonymously– on top of Twin Peaks, but we didn’t expect it to continue,” he continued.
Carney said his friend suggested installing a rainbow flag, but he wanted to have something different, because there were already quite a few rainbow flag displays in the city.
“I always say the pink triangle and the rainbow flag are the Yin and Yang of the gay rights movement,” Carney said. “The pink triangle was, of course, forged in the Holocaust, and the rainbow flag was born out of love, hope, and optimism.”
Carney said he thought it was important to use the pink triangle symbol once he realized that not many people were aware of its history.
The pink triangle symbol has since been reclaimed by the LGBTQ community. In the 1970s, it was used as a symbol against homophobia, and in the 1980s it was used to call attention to the AIDs epidemic.
“And I think with what we’re facing today, it becomes even more important,” noted Suzanne Ford, the executive director of San Francisco Pride, the nonprofit that facilitates the city’s Pride Celebrations. San Francisco Pride is also a financial sponsor of the pink triangle display.
Ford noted that recent actions by the Trump administration, including targeting transgender individuals and renaming the naval ship named for San Francisco LGBTQ pioneer Harvey Milk, make the triangle’s message especially relevant today.
“I think it’s a symbol for us: we never want to go back to a point where we would let anyone else make us feel shameful about who we are and who we love,” Ford said.
Carney emphasized that’s the point of the triangle display: to learn from history and strive for better in the decades to come.
Three decades later, he has watched his idea grow and be embraced by the city.
“It’s so gratifying to see that kind of support and that kind of acceptance,” he said.
Saturday, volunteers will complete the triangle display from 7 to 10 a.m. Then, community leaders will host a commemoration ceremony there.
Carney noted that volunteers are still needed, including volunteers to help take down the triangle at the end of the month. The triangle will be up this year through June 29.
It’s Friday, which means it’s men’s semi-finals day.
At 14:30, No.8 seed Lorenzo Musetti will bring his Italian flair to Court Philippe-Chatrier to challenge defending champion and No.2 seed Carlos Alcaraz, who was in exceptional form as he dismissed Tommy Paul in the quarter-final. This is definitely a must-watch.
Alix Ramsay looks ahead to the encounter and gives us her take on it all.
Order of Play for Day 13
Italian fans may want to take a quick breather after that as they’ll be straight back into the thick of it when Jannik Sinner steps up. The No.1 seed is bidding to add an RG title to the three he’s already won in Melbourne and New York. He faces Novak Djokovic, who is bidding to add a fourth RG title to take his overall tally to a record 25.
But before all that there are some trophies to award. The silverware is going to be coming thick and fast from now on, so we’ll bring you all the action to help you keep up 🏆
The Great British pairing of Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid are going for their sixth consecutive Roland-Garros title. Their opponents will be decided later today.
In the Quad wheelchair doubles final, No.1 seeds Guy Sasson and Niels Vink take on Turkey’s Ahmet Kaplan and Donald Ramphadi of South Africa.
In the women’s wheelchair doubles final, Olympic champion Yui Kamiji and partner Kgothatso Montjane meet No.2 seeds Li Xiaohui and Wang Ziying.
And the boys’ and girls’ wheelchair singles and doubles competitions also reach their conclusion.
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic have enjoyed a back-and-forth Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry. By ATP Staff
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic will face off Friday in a blockbuster first meeting at Roland Garros. The pair’s semi-final at the clay major, which is scheduled for 7 p.m. CEST/1 p.m. EDT, will be the latest chapter in an intriguing Lexus ATP Head2Head rivalry.
From their most recent meeting in Shanghai last year to their first clash on the Monte-Carlo clay in 2021, ATPTour.com reflects on the first eight instalments of the Djokovic-Sinner rivalry.
Rolex Shanghai Masters, 2024 F, Sinner d Djokovic 7-6(4), 6-3 From a 1-4 deficit, Sinner levelled his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against Djokovic at 4-4 with a commanding championship-match display at the 2024 Rolex Shanghai Masters. In the pair’s first Masters 1000 meeting since their opening clash in Monte-Carlo three years earlier, the Italian did not blink en route to clinching his seventh tour-level trophy of that season.
Sinner, who had already clinched ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF honours, inflicted Djokovic’s first defeat in five Shanghai finals to reinforce the momentum swing in the pair’s rivalry. It was perhaps the Serbian himself who best summarised the elevation in Sinner’s level across a 2024 season in which the Italian ended with a 73-6 record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
“He’s just very aggressive from the baseline, as soon as he’s got a shorter ball, he’s taking the initiative,” said the defeated Serbian. “Just very solid from forehand and backhand, doesn’t make too many mistakes, and just tries to take away the time from the opponent.
“That’s something that reminds me of myself throughout my career, that’s what I’ve done for so many years consistently, playing fast-paced tennis, taking away time from the opponent, kind of suffocating the opponent, in a certain way. You want your opponent to always feel under pressure from your shots, from your speed, from your presence on the court. So he’s got that. This year he’s been so consistent. It’s really, really impressive.”
Australian Open, 2024 SF, Sinner d Djokovic 6-1, 6-2, 6-7(6), 6-3 Sinner took the chance to notch back-to-back victories against Djokovic for the first time with aplomb at the 2024 Australian Open. In a stunning, largely one-sided encounter, Sinner outmanoeuvred the record 10-time champion Djokovic from the baseline to charge into his first Grand Slam championship match.
After an uncharacteristically flat start, Djokovic hinted at the start of a trademark Grand Slam comeback by clinching the third-set tie-break. Yet Sinner quickly banished any thoughts of a repeat of his 2022 Wimbledon loss from two sets up with a commanding fourth-set showing that secured his win. The Italian later acknowledged that his late-season encounters with Djokovic in 2023 had set the stage for snapping the Serbian’s 33-match winning streak at Melbourne Park.
“For me was a huge privilege end of last year to play against him three times in 10 days, because obviously you can practise with him, but the match is always different,” said Sinner. “So I feel like this for sure helped me in one way, but in the other way, Grand Slams are also mentally different. I just tried to play also as relaxed as possible but also having the right game plan in my mind. I think today it worked really well.”
Davis Cup, 2023 SF, Sinner d. Djokovic 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 Sinner and Djokovic contested their third tour-level meeting in the space of 10 days when Italy and Serbia both advanced to the 2023 Davis Cup semi-finals. The tennis world readied for another high-stakes showdown between the No. 1 players from both countries.
With Serbia holding a 1-0 lead in the tie, Djokovic was on the brink of sending his country to the final when he brought up three match points at 4-5, 0/40 in the final set. But Sinner served his way out of trouble and — buoyed by his new lease on life in the competition — won the final three games of the match to level the tie at 1-1.
“It was a roller coaster,” said Sinner, who later teamed with Lorenzo Sonego in a decisive doubles win for Italy against Djokovic and Miomir Kecmanovic. “I was starting off really well. Second set he played much better than me. Third set I tried to serve really well, and also on match points down I served well.”
Nitto ATP Finals, 2023 F, Djokovic d. Sinner 6-3, 6-3 Five days earlier, Djokovic had completed a swift revenge job against Sinner in Turin, where he rebounded from a group-stage loss to the Italian with a near-flawless match to win his record-breaking seventh Nitto ATP Finals crown.
The Serbian served his way to an early advantage, losing just two points in his first seven service games behind pinpoint deliveries. The World No. 1 was on the front foot in almost every rally, making a concerted effort to attack and play the match on his terms.
But the tension arrived in the second set when Sinner, urged on by the Turin crowd, created two break points to level the set. Djokovic once again leaned on strong serving to escape, and he then held off one final charge from the Italian to secure a hugely satisfying title.
“To crown it with a win against a hometown hero in Jannik, who has played amazing tennis this week, is phenomenal,” Djokovic said after breaking a tie with Roger Federer for most trophies at the season finale. “I think I played different tactically than I did in the group stage against Jannik, and just overall it was a phenomenal week.”
Nitto ATP Finals, 2023 RR, Sinner d. Djokovic 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) By late 2023, Sinner had established himself as the form player on Tour, and he entered that year’s Nitto ATP Finals having won 25 of his past 29 matches. After defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in his opening round-robin match in Turin, Sinner carried his momentum through for a maiden victory against Djokovic in the pair’s fourth Lexus ATP Head2Head meeting.
Sinner, roared on by his adoring home crowd, led for much of the match, including at 4-2 in the final set, but a decisive tie-break was required to separate the fierce competitors. Sinner, who won nine straight points to claim the opening set, once again found his best tennis down the stretch of the third set to claim a hard-earned victory.
“I think I was really brave and intelligent in important moments, especially the third set,” said Sinner, who produced some of his biggest ground strokes of the match under pressure in the final-set tie-break.
“It means a lot to me. When you win against the World No. 1, who has won 24 Grand Slams, it’s obviously in the top [of my career results]… I felt like it was a really tactical match, and I managed to win, so I’m very happy.”
Wimbledon, 2023 SF, Djokovic d. Sinner 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4) Wimbledon was the setting for Sinner and Djokovic’s second and third Lexus ATP Head2Head meetings. In the 2023 semi-finals, there was little of the drama from the pair’s 2022 five-set clash as Djokovic produced a commanding semi-final display to maintain his dominance over his young rival.
Chasing a record-equalling eighth Wimbledon title, Djokovic saved all six break points he faced, including two that doubled as set points for Sinner in the third set. His grass-court nous proved too much for Sinner, who was competing in his first major semi-final.
“In the semi-finals, it was always going to be a very tense, very close match,” Djokovic said after his 34th consecutive Wimbledon win, a run that later came to an end against Carlos Alcaraz in a thrilling five-set championship match. “Three very close sets. I think the scoreline maybe doesn’t give the reality of what was happening on the court. It was super close.”
Wimbledon, 2022 QF, Djokovic d Sinner 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 In the 2022 Wimbledon quarter-finals, Sinner provided an almighty scare to an opponent who had not lost a match at SW19 since 2017, but he was ultimately unable to capitalise on a two-set lead in what was just his ninth tour-level match on grass.
Djokovic, who had led 4-1 in the opening set before finding himself on the brink of a shock exit to the World No. 13, later attributed his comeback to taking a long, hard look in the mirror.
“He was the better player for the first two sets,” reflected Djokovic on his comeback victory. “I went out and had a refresh, had a toilet break, I had a little pep talk to myself in the mirror, it’s the truth. Sometimes in these circumstances when not much is happening positively for you, sometimes these things are necessary. A little break to try and regather the thoughts and reassemble.”
Jannik Sinner/Novak Djokovic” style=”width: 100%;” src=”https://www.atptour.com/-/media/2024-images/news/2025/06/05/16/06/sinner-djokovic-wimbledon-2022-celebration.jpg”>
Djokovic celebrates after rallying past Sinner in the 2022 Wimbledon quarter-finals. Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images
Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, 2021 R2, Djokovic d Sinner 6-4, 6-2 Even at 19 years old, Sinner had already made a significant impact prior to the 2021 Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. The Italian had picked up two ATP 250 titles, reached the 2020 Roland Garros quarter-finals and established himself as one of the most promising young players on Tour. Yet Sinner, who arrived in the Principality after reaching his maiden ATP Masters 1000 final in Miami, was given a chastening first experience of taking on then-World No. 1 Djokovic.
Djokovic eased to a 94-minute second-round victory, in which he broke Sinner’s serve five times, at the Monte-Carlo Country Club. Sinner, who himself was competing at a career-high No. 22 in the PIF ATP Rankings, was later asked what he had found most difficult when trying to lay a glove on Djokovic.
“Maybe that every ball is coming back,” answered the teenager. “I think that’s difficult. He’s moving good, especially in the important points. He’s serving good. He’s making the right decisions on important points. I think that’s the most difficult part.”
The number of tourists visiting Croatia has plummeted in a major blow for the industry. The Balkan country has been a haven for visitors from Germany, Austria, Czech Republic, and Italy – many attracted by the cheaper prices to be found there.
However, in the last three years tourism prices in Croatia have surged by a whopping 50%. The spike in prices is making Croatia more expensive than two of its biggest rivals – Spain and Greece. Costs in the two Mediterranean countries have risen by only 15-20% over the same period.
The steep rise is now putting Croatia’s reputation as an affordable travel destination at great risk.
The ballooning costs are not the result of external factors – such as energy costs or value-added tax (VAT) rates.
Croatia boasts some of the lowest energy prices within the EU and reduced tourism VAT rate of 13%.
The main cause for the price spike lies in the rising operational costs within the hospitality industry.
Higher prices have seen a stagnation in overnight stays and worryingly a decline in tourist spending.
During the peak summer season last year, foreign tourism revenue in Croatia fell by 0.7% compared to the previous year.
Tourists have vented their anger at the steep rise in prices on travel review platforms, like Tripadvisor.
One Norwegian was left deeply disillusioned after holidaying in Croatia last year.
“Everything is much more expensive than before,” they wrote. “Prices are abnormally high and have probably increased two to three times in two years.
“The price of a sunbed is 25 to 30 euros! Croatia was our first choice for a summer vacation, but now everything has unfortunately become too expensive.
“I don’t know if we will return. I’m sorry that Croatia is developing in this direction.”
However, a UK tourist didn’t see any evidence of a steep rise year-on-year.
They wrote: “Comparing what we spent in Rovinj on food and drink in 2023 and what we spent in Hvar this year was very close interestingly.
“There wasn’t a great variation of prices. The only difference was that Rovinj was a bit better value wine wise with more in the way of carafes on offer.”
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