French Open: Alcaraz, Sabalenka, Swiatek proceed to semis
The second seed has searched in vain for his usual sublime form on Parisian clay this year, needing four sets in his last three matches to dismiss determined opponents, but he had no trouble on a balmy evening on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Claycourt specialist Carlos Alcaraz continued his French Open title defence with a display of breathtaking brutality for a 6-0 6-1 6-4 victory over American 12th seed Tommy Paul and a spot in the Roland Garros semi-finals on Tuesday.
The second seed has searched in vain for his usual sublime form on Parisian clay this year, needing four sets in his last three matches to dismiss determined opponents, but he had no trouble on a balmy evening on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Elsewhere, Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek will take their era-defining rivalry to the latter stages of the French Open for the first time as they reached the semi-finals.
Sabalenka, the world No 1, edged past Zheng Qinwen, the eighth seed, 7-6 (3), 6-3 to end the Olympic gold medalist’s 10-match winning streak at Roland Garros.
Sabalenka has reached the last four in nine of her past 10 grand slam tournaments, her only earlier loss coming in the quarter-finals in Paris last year when she was suffering from food poisoning.
Fifth seed Swiatek returned to her favourite court and closed out a deceptively difficult 6-1, 7-5 win over Elina Svitolina to maintain her remarkable streak in Paris.
Swiatek has now won 26 consecutive matches at the French Open and stands just two victories away from becoming the first woman in the Open era to win the French Open four years in succession.
On Wednesday, Novak Djokovic faces Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals, the blockbuster fixture of the day.
Djokovic is yet to drop a set at this year’s tournament and defeated Cameron Norrie on Monday to claim his 100th career win at Roland Garros, as well as his 19th French Open quarter-final.
Zverev, the third seed, will be the toughest test Djokovic has faced by far, with the German having reached last year’s final in Paris where he lost in five sets to Carlos Alcaraz.
