ROLAND-GARROS
20 May - 9 June 2024
As it happened: June 9
Follow along as we bring you updates from around the grounds at Roland-Garros 2023
© Corinne Dubreuil/FFTAlcaraz explains physical problems
World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz admitted that nerves and tension took over during his semi-final defeat to Novak Djokovic and that his whole body was cramping at the beginning of the third set.
9:18pm Ruud sweeps past Zverev
World No.4 Casper Ruud has reached a third final from his last five Grand Slams, posting a crushing 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 victory over No.22 seed Alexander Zverev.
In Sunday's final, the Norwegian will take on Novak Djokovic, who owns a 4-0 head-to-head record against Ruud.
8:48pm One set away
Ruud is closing in on a second consecutive Roland-Garros final as he moves up 6-3, 6-4 against Zverev.
Zverev is 1/9 in break point conversions so far in this match.
8:00pm Ruud takes opening set
Ruud grabs a 6-3 lead in 49 minutes against Zverev, who is trying to become the second German man in the Open Era to reach the Roland-Garros final. Michael Stich lost to Yevgeny Kafelnikov in the 1996 title decider.
7:26pm Ruud v Zverev under way
Last year's finalist and world No.4 Casper Ruud has started his semi-final clash with No.22 seed Alexander Zverev with an early break for a 2-0 advantage. Zverev has broken back though and we're on serve at 1-2.
The Norwegian is looking to reach a third Grand Slam final, from his last five major tournaments, having also made the championship match at last summer's US Open.
Meanwhile, Zverev is bidding for a second major final appearance and first since the 2020 US Open.
Excitement mounts for women's final
No.1 seed Iga Swiatek is seeking her third Roland-Garros title and will face world No.43 Karolina Muchova who is into a Grand Slam final for the first time (not before 3:00pm).
Here's some preview material to check out ahead of what promises to be a blockbuster encounter on Saturday at Roland-Garros.
>> SWIATEK V MUCHOVA: WHERE THE MATCH CAN BE WON
>> FLIPKENS: MUCHOVA IS CAPABLE OF BEATING ANYONE
>> SWIATEK: I REALLY RESPECT MUCHOVA
>> SEMI-FINAL: SWIATEK FENDS OFF HADDAD MAIA TO MAKE THIRD RG FINAL
>> SEMI-FINAL: MUCHOVA DENIES SABALENKA FOR FIRST SLAM FINAL
Kind words from Djokovic to Alcaraz
"First and foremost I have to say tough luck for Carlos. At this level, the last thing you want is cramps and physical problems in the late stages of a Grand Slam. I hope he can recover and come back very soon. I told him at the net, he knows how young he is, he has a lot of time ahead of him. He's an incredible competitor, so he deserves all the applause and all the support. Congratulations to him for his fighting spirit and hanging in until the very end."
-- Djokovic to Alex Corretja in his on-court interview
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFT6:26pm Djokovic wins in four
World No.3 Novak Djokovic completes a 6-3, 5-7, 6-1, 6-1 victory over a physically-hampered Carlos Alcaraz to reach a record-extending 34th Grand Slam final.
On Sunday, the Serb will face Alexander Zverev or Casper Ruud for a shot at a men's all-time record 23rd major title.
6:15pm Djokovic cruising now
Two-time Roland-Garros champion Djokovic is now up 4-0 in the fourth. The Serb is closing in on a 34th Grand Slam final.
5:50pm Djokovic takes the third
With Alcaraz seemingly cramping and unable to move, Djokovic scoops the third set in 30 minutes to lead the world No.1 6-3, 5-7, 6-1. A dejected-looking Alcaraz goes off court for a toilet break.
©Julien Crosnier / FFT5:44 Djokovic leads 3-1 in third set
In an unusual sequence of events, Alcaraz appeared to be cramping at 1-1 and in order to receive medical treatment without it being a changeover, he chooses to concede an entire game, handing over a virtual break of serve to Djokovic. After receiving brief medical attention, play resumes and Djokovic holds for 3-1.
Alcaraz is still in discomfort and is barely moving. The trainer is back on court at the 4-1 changeover.
5:14pm Alcaraz takes the second set
After failing to serve out the set at 5-3 and squandering triple-set point the following game, Alcaraz steadies the ship and breaks Djokovic to seal the second set and level the match at 3-6, 7-5 after two hours and 11 minutes of play.
5:01pm Djokovic saves three set points
From 0-40 down and serving at 4-5, Djokovic sweeps the next five points to hold and we're back on level terms in the second set.
4:51pm Djokovic breaks back
Alcaraz couldn't serve out the set as Djokovic breaks back with a signature down-the-line backhand to narrow his deficit to 4-5.
4:44pm Alcaraz breaks
One hour and 44 minutes into this contest and Alcaraz has finally claimed his first break of serve to inch ahead 5-3 and put himself in the position to serve for the second set, after dropping the first one 3-6.
He hit an outrageous squash shot earlier that has earned him Shot of the Day honours. Feast your eyes and enjoy this one!
4:00pm Djokovic takes first set
He had to save a break point while serving it out, but Djokovic has taken a 6-3 lead over Alcaraz in just under an hour.
3:45pm Djokovic clings onto his lead
Serbia's world No.3 saves three break points in a lengthy seventh game to hold for 5-2. This was a better game from Alcaraz, who pulled off a sublime passing shot to create an opportunity to break but Djokovic's resilience shines through and he is now just a game away from taking a one-set lead.
3:19pm Djokovic earns first break
With a brilliant exchange of deft touches and clever placement, Djokovic gets the first break of serve of the match, finishing off with a volley winner for a 3-1 advantage on Alcaraz.
Meanwhile in girls' singles
2:50pm First semi-final about to start
World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz and 22-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic are all set for a blockbuster semi-final that has been flagged since the draw was released two weeks ago.
The match is about to start and Court Philippe-Chatrier is filling up nicely.
The last three Grand Slam tournaments have been won by Djokovic or Alcaraz. Djokovic won Wimbledon last July and the Australian Open in January (missed US Open).
© Philippe Montigny/FFTHe comes in with a 19-match Grand Slam tournament winning streak since his last loss to Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals here last year.
Alcaraz captured the US Open title last September, withdrew from the Australian Open through injury and enters the semi-finals on a 12-match streak in Slam events.
2:35pm Hsieh/Wang set up Fernandez/Townsend final
Hsieh Su-Wei and Wang Xinyu have advanced to the women's doubles final with a 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory over No.6 seeds Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez. The unseeded duo will face Canadian-American team of Leylah Fernandez and Taylor Townsend.
© Clément Mahoudeau/FFTGallery alert: Tunnel vision
The incredibly talented Roland-Garros photography team don't miss a beat and they've captured some beautiful behind-the-scenes moments of players right before they step on court, and right after they come off it. Check out this small selection of photos from those intimate tunnel moments fans don't get to see often.
© Julien Crosnier/FFTJuniors: Boys' singles final set
Croatian No.3 seed Dino Prizmic will take on Bolivian No.8 seed Juan Carlos Prado Angelo (pictured below) in the Roland-Garros boys' singles final following impressive last-four victories over American opponents today.
Prizmic dismissed Darwin Blanch 6-3, 6-2, while Prado Angelo knocked out Learner Tien 6-1, 7-5.
© Cédric Lecocq/FFT12:25pm First Slam final for Team Fernandez/Townsend
No.10 seeds Leylah Fernandez and Taylor Townsend are into their first Grand Slam final together with a smooth 6-0, 6-4 victory over last year's runners-up Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula.
The 64-minute win on Court Simonne-Mathieu saw Townsend reach her second Grand Slam final from her last three majors (was 2022 US Open doubles runner-up alongside Caty McNally), while Fernandez, a singles runner-up at the US Open in 2021, is into her first Slam final in doubles.
© Clément Mahoudeau/FFTWheelchair doubles: Kamiji/Montjane win on Chatrier
Top seeds Yui Kamiji and Kgothatso Montjane defeated French duo Pauline Deroulede and Emmanuelle Morch 6-1, 6-2 to reach the final in women's wheelchair doubles.
The Japanese-South African pair will face Diede de Groot and Maria Florencia Moreno in the championship match.
© Julien Crosnier/FFTBonjour à tous!
Hello everyone and welcome to Day 13 at Roland-Garros. We're closing in on finals weekend at the Parisian Slam and we've got two men's singles semi-finals and a women's wheelchair doubles semi-final scheduled for Court Philippe-Chatrier today.
Top seeds Yui Kamiji and Kgothatso Montjane will take on French duo Pauline Deroulede and Emmanuelle Morch in the wheelchair doubles semis at 11:00am before world No.1 Carlos Alcaraz faces 22-time Grand Slam Novak Djokovic in the first men's singles semi-final (not before 2:45pm).
Last year's finalist and world No.4 Casper Ruud will close out play on centre court against German No.22 seed Alexander Zverev (not before 5:30pm).
Juniors, women's doubles, wheelchair and legends events continue on all other courts, starting from 11:00am.
Here's some essential reading material to get you going before the matches begin.
>> AS IT HAPPENED: THURSDAY JUNE 8
>> DAY 12 DIARY: BLANCH BENEFITING FROM ALCARAZ SESSIONS
>> ALCARAZ V DJOKOVIC: WHERE THE MATCH CAN BE WON
>> RUUD V ZVEREV: WHERE THE MATCH CAN BE WON
>> RUUD, ZVEREV PEAKING AT THE RIGHT TIME
>> DJOKOVIC, ALCARAZ EACH WANT TO 'BEAT THE BEST'
>> CHANG: DJOKOVIC MUST TAKE CHANCES ALCARAZ
>> RUNE: I SEE CASPER IN THE FINAL