Carlos Alcaraz returned to the French Open semi-finals with a straight-sets win over Tommy Paul in the night session at Roland Garros.
Defending champion Alcaraz produced his finest performance of the tournament so far and required just 94 minutes to defeat Paul, the 12th seed, 6-0 6-1 6-4. The Spaniard will play Lorenzo Musetti in the quarter-finals after a dominant win over Paul, who came into the match with an abdominal injury.
Musetti, the eighth seed, defeated Frances Tiafoe in four sets earlier on Wednesday. The Italian eighth seed escaped disqualification after kicking a ball at a line judge, but continued his strong clay-court season by reaching the French Open semi-finals for the first time.
In the women’s, defending champion Iga Swiatek battled past Elina Svitolina to set up a mouthwatering clash with top seed and World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka. Swiatek has now won 26 consecutive matches at the French Open while Sabalenka defeated Qinwen Zheng and is still yet to drop a set all tournament.
Follow live scores and updates from the French Open quarter-finals, below
French Open LIVE: Latest scores and updates
- Carlos Alcaraz defeats Tommy Paul to reach French Open semi-finals
- Lorezno Musetti awaits after beating Frances Tiafoe in four sets
- Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka set up blockbuster French Open semi-final
Tomorrow's French Open order of play
21:59 , Jamie BraidwoodCourt Philippe-Chatrier
Madison Keys [7] vs Coco Gauff [2]
Mirra Andreeva [6] vs Lois Boisson
Jannik Sinner [1] vs Alexander Bublik
not before 7.15pm
Alexander Zverev [3] vs Novak Djokovic [6]
Today's French Open results
21:58 , Jamie Braidwood- Aryna Sabalenka [1] bt. Zheng Qinwen [8] 7-6 6-3
- Iga Swiatek [5] bt. Elina Svitolina [13] 6-1 7-5
- Lorenzo Musetti [8] bt. Frances Tiafoe [15] 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-2
- Carlos Alcaraz [2] bt. Tommy Paul [12] 6-0 6-1 6-4
Carlos Alcaraz: I'm sorry - I had to do my work!
21:23 , Jamie Braidwood“Every tournament is here is special. I’m really happy to be in the semi-final again, the third year in a row. I’m enjoying it.
“It’s always fun playing here. I have to say: I know you wanted to watch more tennis, I’m sorry about it! I had to do my work.”
Carlos Alcaraz is asked how it feels to play a 'perfect' match
21:19 , Jamie Braidwood“I could close my eyes and everything went in. My feeling today was unbelievable. I was trying to hit every shot 100 per cent. I was trying to hit everything forward. Today was a day where everything went in. It was unbelievable.
“We were in the quarter-finals of Roland Garros, these matches are never easy. I played against Tommy many times and every match was really difficult - he beat my twice. That helped me in the beginning of the match to help me focus on my game. Tommy is an unbelievable player and that helped me today.”
Carlos Alcaraz will play Lorenzo Musetti in French Open semis
21:10 , Jamie BraidwoodIt will be a repeat of the Monte Carlo final and Rome semi-final as Carlos Alcaraz and Lorenzo Musetti meet in the French Open semi-finals.
Alcaraz has won his last five matches against the Italian.
GAME, SET AND MATCH! *Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 6-1 6-4 Tommy Paul
21:08 , Jamie BraidwoodIt’s all over! Alcaraz races into the French Open semi-finals with his best performance of the tournament.
He seals it with another forehand winner. Alcaraz applauds Paul off the court, with the American playing through injury.
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 6-1 5-4 Tommy Paul
21:07 , Jamie BraidwoodAlcaraz is racing towards the finish line. He lands a series of attacking forehands and moves into the net to bring up three match points.
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 6-1 5-4 Tommy Paul
21:05 , Jamie BraidwoodAlcaraz makes his move: diving to his right to get his forehand return in play. Paul fires wide and it brings up two break points.
Alcaraz converts on the second. He turns and pumps his fist and will serve for a place in the semi-finals.
Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 6-1 4-4 Tommy Paul*
21:02 , Jamie BraidwoodHow Alcaraz would love to wrap this up in straight-sets and get to bed.
But Paul is rallying in the third and makes it through to 4-4, still on serve.
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 6-1 2-3 Tommy Paul
20:51 , Jamie BraidwoodPaul lands a fine forehand out wide to take his latest hold. after Alcaraz had looked to ramp up the power on the forehand duel.
Things are looking a little better for Paul, but there’s a long way to go.
Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 6-1 2-2 Tommy Paul*
20:47 , Jamie BraidwoodAlcaraz is up to 85 per cent serving and lands an ace down the middle to take the hold.
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 6-1 1-2 Tommy Paul
20:43 , Jamie BraidwoodNow Paul holds to love as he finds an ace and then another big serve that Alcaraz puts into the bottom of the net! Up to three games for the American...
Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 6-1 2-1 Tommy Paul*
20:42 , Jamie BraidwoodAlcaraz holds to love as he moves in on the wide serve and swats away the volley to the opposite side.
Paul looked weary chasing down that ball and I’m sure the ab-strain, plus being down two sets, is not helping.
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 6-1 0-1 Tommy Paul
20:40 , Jamie BraidwoodPaul wins the opening point of the third set to loud roars, but then faces two more break points after a double fault on 15-30.
Paul saves both, then finds good serving to save two more on deuce. Finally, the American holds to take the game and lead the third!
SECOND SET! Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 6-1 Tommy Paul
20:28 , Jamie BraidwoodAlcaraz plucks a drive volley out of the sky and lands the winner. Paul nets on the return and the Spaniard gets three set points.
Alcaraz goes for it on the first, but nets. On the next point, the American goes wide on the backhand.
Lots of cries for “Tommy, Tommy” in Chatrier. They want a longer match, but Alcaraz goes 6-0 6-1 up in 53 minutes.
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 5-1 Tommy Paul
20:25 , Jamie BraidwoodBREAK! It’s tough to watch if you’re in Paul’s corner, but everyone else in Chatrier is loving this display from Alcaraz.
Back-to-back winners from the Spaniard, including a return winner, as he secures the double break in the second.
Alcaraz will serve for a 6-0 6-1 lead.
Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 4-1 Tommy Paul*
20:21 , Jamie BraidwoodJannik Sinner has enjoyed a couple of hugely dominant wins in reaching the quarter-finals on the other side of the draw, dropping just four games against Jiri Lehecka and eight against Andrey Rublev last night.
Feels as if Alcaraz is targeting something similar as he opens up a 4-1 lead in the second.
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 3-1 Tommy Paul
20:18 , Jamie BraidwoodBreak! Alcaraz strikes first in the second set after Paul fires wide on the forehand. Alcaraz is bringing it to Paul on every rally, keeping it intense. The American is struggling for answers during the longer exchanges.
Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 2-1 Tommy Paul*
20:14 , Jamie BraidwoodAlcaraz pumps his fist after landing a forehand winner down the line, returning with his own love-hold.
*Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 1-1 Tommy Paul
20:13 , Jamie BraidwoodRelief for Tommy Paul, and a smile on the American’s face, as he gets on the board at the start of the second set.
He holds to love and gets a big roar from the Philippe-Chatrier crowd.
Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 1-0 Tommy Paul*
20:10 , Jamie BraidwoodAlcaraz avoids an opening blip on serve after holding his serve from 15-30 down. The Spaniard has dropped a set in each of his last four matches, all from a set up.
Does he want to put on a complete performance tonight?
FIRST SET! *Carlos Alcaraz 6-0 Tommy Paul
20:04 , Jamie BraidwoodTommy Paul has game point to get on the board but Alcaraz runs around the forehand to save and then brings up set point with a brilliant drop shot.
Paul saves with an ace - but Alcaraz goes to the drop shot to bring up another set point. Alcaraz runs around the forehand again and it’s goodnight Paul.
The power ramps up, Paul nets on the forehand and the Spaniard takes the set without dropping a game.
No wonder he’s laughing.
Carlos Alcaraz 5-0 Tommy Paul*
19:58 , Jamie BraidwoodAlcaraz races to another hold and jogs back to his chair after landing another big serve.
Paul has been struggling with a stomach injury at the French Open and the sight of a charging Alcaraz is the last thing he would have wanted to deal with on Philippe-Chatrier.
*Carlos Alcaraz 4-0 Tommy Paul
19:55 , Jamie BraidwoodBREAK! Alcaraz jumps on the Paul second serve with the scorching backhand return down the line and then follows it in to put away the forehand volley.
On break point, Alcaraz repeats the trick - a big backhand return down the line and Paul pushes long on the forehand.
Carlos Alcaraz 3-0 Tommy Paul*
19:49 , Jamie Braidwood15 minutes played but Alcaraz has come through two quick service games. The defending champion has been sharp through the first three games and consolidates the break of serve.
*Carlos Alcaraz 2-0 Tommy Paul
19:47 , Jamie BraidwoodBREAK! Incredible from Alcaraz! He lobbed Paul on game point to stay on deuce, then produces two wonderful forehands in a row to get the break. Paul is having to work so hard on every point.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-0 Tommy Paul*
19:42 , Jamie BraidwoodAlcaraz is enjoying this already, which is not a good sign for Paul. He slides to his right to fire a forehand winner past Paul and get to deuce, then wins a lengthy point by finding a lob onto the baseline.
Paul nets to bring up break point but saves as Alcaraz nets on the backhand.
Carlos Alcaraz 1-0 Tommy Paul*
19:35 , Jamie BraidwoodA wonderful start for Alcaraz, holding to love after moving Paul from side to side and finishing with the volley swatted into the open court.
*denotes next server
Carlos Alcaraz 0-0 Tommy Paul
19:33 , Jamie BraidwoodHere we go! Alcaraz to serve. A place in the semi-finals and a date for Lorenzo Musetti up for grabs.
Carlos Alcaraz vs Tommy Paul
19:27 , Jamie BraidwoodCarlos Alcaraz has won his previous two French Open quarter-finals, as he bids for back-to-back titles in Paris.
Tommy Paul is bidding to reach the French Open semis for the first time. The American won the toss and he choses to receive.
The warm-ups begin.
Carlos Alcaraz admits he was being driven 'mad' in previous round
19:20 , Jamie BraidwoodCarlos Alcaraz admitted Ben Shelton was driving him “mad” before dispatching the big-serving American in the previous round.
The Spaniard dropped the third set but still collected his 100th Tour level clay-court win, 7-6 (8) 6-3 4-6 6-4.
“Honestly, today I fought against myself in the mind. I just tried to calm myself – in some moments I was mad,” he said.
“I was angry with myself, talking not good things. I’m happy that I didn’t let that thought play against me.
“I tried to calm myself and tried to keep going. That’s what I tried.”
Carlos Alcaraz's route to French Open quarter-finals
19:16 , Jamie BraidwoodFirst Round: Defeated lucky loser Giulio Zeppieri 6-3 6-3 6-2
Second Round: Defeated Fabian Marozsan in four sets 6-1 4-6 6-1 6-2
Third Round: Defeated Damir Dzumhur in four sets 6–1, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4
Fourth Round: Defeated Ben Shelton in four sets 7–6(8), 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka set up blockbuster French Open semi-final clash
19:09 , Jamie BraidwoodIga Swiatek is still in the hunt for a record-breaking French Open title triumph after setting up a blockbuster semi-final against World No 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
Swiatek swept past Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina 6-1 7-5 on a windy day at Roland Garros to book her place in the last four.
The 24-year-old, who accepted a one-month doping ban late last year, is looking to become the first woman in the professional era since 1968 to win four consecutive titles in Paris.
Although she failed to win a title going into the French Open this season, she looks to have rediscovered her remarkable clay-court form in Paris.
She will next play top seeded Sabalenka in a mouth-watering semi-final after the Belarusian beat China's Zheng Qinwen in straight sets.
The TikTok dance and irony at heart of Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka’s rivalry
Lorenzo Musetti escapes French Open disqualification after kicking ball at line judge
19:01 , Jamie BraidwoodLorenzo Musetti escaped being disqualified from the French Open after accidentally kicking a ball at a line judge during this quarter-final win over Frances Tiafoe.
The Italian progressed to his first Roland Garros semi-final after beating Tiafoe in four sets and will play either Carlos Alcaraz or Tommy Paul on Friday for a place in the final.
But the eighth seed had a fortunate escape during his contest with Tiafoe where Musetti risked being defaulted from the tournament when he struck a line judge by volleying the ball with his foot.
Musetti, who had lost the previous point on serve and was down 3-5 in the second set, was receiving balls from a ball boy when he dropped one of them behind the baseline as he faced the back of the court.
Lorenzo Musetti escapes French Open disqualification after kicking ball at line judge
Carlos Alcaraz vs Tommy Paul head-to-head
18:53 , Jamie BraidwoodThere certainly have been some entertaining matches between Alcaraz and Paul over the last few years - and the American even has some wins against the young Spaniard.
2024 - Olympics, Alcaraz wins 6-3 7-6
2024 - Wimbledon, Alcaraz wins 5-7 6-4 6-2 6-2
2024 - Cincinnati, Alcaraz wins 7-6 6-7 6-3
2023 - Canada, Paul wins 6-3 4-6 6-3
2023 - Miami, Alcaraz wins 6-4 6-4
2022 - Canada, Paul wins 6-7 7-6 6-3
Tommy Paul on facing Carlos Alcaraz
18:43 , Jamie Braidwood“We played actually here not even a year ago at the Olympics. I felt like I played a decent match. I know a lot of things that I could have done better, and I had a couple of set points I think in the second set and ended up losing in straights.
“Obviously the guy can play amazing tennis here, I mean, defending champion and everything. I think we would go into the match with some good, new ideas.”
Carlos Alcaraz on facing Tommy Paul
18:42 , Jamie Braidwood“Against Tommy, I think for the people, it's going to be a really interesting match to watch, because every time we play against each other, we rise our level to the top as well.
“We make really good rallies, good points. So I think it's going to be great to watch as well. It's going to be a good quarterfinal.”
Good evening
18:40 , Jamie BraidwoodHello and welcome. We have a cracker of quarter-final to come tonight between Carlos Alcaraz and Tommy Paul, with Lorenzo Musetti waiting the winner in the semi-finals.
Earlier we had Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka set up their semi-final, which will come on Thursday.
