Alcaraz & Zverev set for summit clash, Swiatek to face Paolini: 2024 French Open Semi-Final Roundup

The 2024 French Open will always be remembered by tennis enthusiasts for its five-set marathons and a surprising turn of events. After the elimination of Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina in the quarter-final stage by underdogs, a new race started in the women’s singles event. 

Meanwhile, Paris is set to crown a new men’s singles champion after seven years. With that being said, let’s take a look at what unfolded in the 2024 French Open semi-final matches: 

Men’s Singles

Jannik Sinner vs Carlos Alcaraz

A marquee clash between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz was played in the semifinals of the 2024 French Open. Before the 2024 French Open, the two youngsters faced each other in the red dirt only once. Their only clay meeting took place in 2022 at the Croatia Open final. The match was won by Sinner in three sets. However, the Spaniard has completed his redemption on a bigger stage.

In the initial two sets, Sinner as well as Alcaraz’s first serve percentage was only 60. However, the match started intensifying with the third set. Both players started shooting more winners but the match stood equal until the fifth set. In the decider, Alcaraz started using more power while Sinner started to look tired and he also suffered from cramps in his arms.

Thus, after four hours and 10 minutes, Alcaraz secured the victory over his arch-rival on his third match point 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3. With the win, Alcaraz has become the youngest player in the open era to reach the final of a Grand Slam on all three surfaces. 

Alexander Zverev vs Casper Ruud

Alexander Zverev has reached a Grand Slam final for the first time since the 2020 US Open

After falling short of reaching the final on the last three occasions, Alexander Zverev finally made the cut at the 2024 French Open. The German tennis star faced two-time Roland Garros runner-up Casper Ruud in the semifinals. Zverev also faced Ruud during last year’s semifinals, where the Norwegian recorded an easy straight-sets victory. 

During this year’s semifinals, Ruud won the first set against Zverev 2-6 at Court Philippe-Chatrier. However, the ATP World No. 4 completed a comeback against Casper Ruud in the other sets. The German smashed a total of 19 aces, compared to Ruud’s four. Additionally, Zverev had an impressive success percentage of 86 on his first serve. 

Ruud garnered more points in the service games, however, his serve was broken on five occasions throughout the match. With an aggressive style, Zverev defeated Ruud 2-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 to book a berth in the final of the 2024 Roland Garros. He’ll be facing Carlos Alcaraz in his maiden Roland Garros final. 

Women’s Singles

Iga Swiatek vs Coco Gauff

Iga Swiatek defeated American tennis star Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4 to secure a spot in the French Open final for the third consecutive time. Guaff has faced Swiatek on a total of 12 occasions on the tour, where the Pole has managed to win 11 times. A similar result was observed in the 2024 Roland Garros semi-final when the two young tennis stars locked horns against each other. 

In the first set, Gauff adopted an extra aggressive style of playing, which affected her ability to play shots with accuracy. The lack of accuracy eventually led to the American tennis star making unforced errors and trailing the set 5-1. Swiatek comfortably sealed the first set 6-2 and continued the momentum throughout the match. 

Playing with accuracy, the WTA World No. 1 made 14 unforced errors compared to Gauff’s 39. The American tennis star scored 27 winners, 13 more than Swiatek but her unforced errors kept her away from the victory. Swiatek targeted Gauff’s forehand and broke serve four times from seven opportunities, eventually winning the match in straight sets after one hour and 37 minutes.

The Pole is currently on a 20-match unbeaten streak in Roland Garros. She lost her last match in Paris against Greek tennis star Maria Sakkari in the quarterfinals of the 2021 French Open. Only Chris Evert (29), Monica Seles (25) and Justine Henin (24) have won more than 20 consecutive matches in the clay court Major.

Jasmine Paolini vs Mirra Andreeva

Italy’s Jasmine Paolini stunned 17-year-old Russian prodigy Mirra Andreeva in the semifinals of the 2024 French Open to reach her first-ever Grand Slam final. Andreeva recorded a resounding victory over Aryna Sabalenka in the semifinals and due to the loss, the Belarusian lost her second spot in the WTA rankings. 

Meanwhile, Paolini recorded a thrilling three-set win over Elena Rybakina. Playing against Andreeva, the Italian was in the driver’s seat throughout the fixture. She dominated the game with an impressive 80% success of first serve. 

The new WTA World No. 7 outclassed her Russian counterpart comfortably in one hour and 13 minutes, winning four of the six breakpoints. Interestingly, Paolini has won six consecutive matches on the red dirt for the first time in her professional career. She’ll be facing three-time Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek in the final of the 2024 French Open.

Other Important results

Men’s Doubles

Rohan Bopanna/Matthew Ebden vs Simone Bolelli/Andrea Vavassori 

Facing their 2024 Australian Open final rivals on a different surface, Rohan Bopanna and Matthew Ebden came up short. The Indo-Aussie pair gave away their 1-4 lead in the first set. Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori capitalised on Bopanna and Ebden’s shortcomings to win the first set 7-5. 

Bopanna also reached the semi-finals in the men’s doubles event at the 2022 French Open

The 2024 Australian Open champions won the second set and forced the game into a decider. However, the third set turned out to be a cakewalk for the Italian duo as they sealed the victory 7-5, 2-6, 6-2. Nevertheless, after being eliminated in the first and second rounds of the Madrid Open and the Italian Open, it was a better result for the Indo-Aussie pair.

Haracio Zebellos/Marcel Granollers vs Marcelo Arevalo/Mate Pavic

The top-seeded pair of Haracio Zebellos and Marcel Granollers suffered a shocking defeat against 19th seed Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic. The ATP World No. 1 pair easily won the first set by breaking Arevalo and Pavic’s serve twice. However, they started struggling as soon as the second set started. 

Zebellos and Granollers were seemingly unhappy with their performance in the semifinals and that started reflecting on their style of playing. Without any tiebreak, the match was won by Arevalo and Pavic 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. They will be facing Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the final. 

Women’s Doubles

Jasmine Paolini/Sara Errani vs Elena-Gabriela Ruse/Marta Kostyuk

Jasmine Paolini is enjoying a breakthrough campaign at three 2024 French Open. After beating Mirra Andreeva to secure her first-ever singles Grand Slam final appearance, she has also signed in the women’s doubles event. Partnering with compatriot and former Roland Garros runner-up, Sara Errani, Paolini has reached her maiden women’s doubles final in a Grand Slam tournament. 

The Italian pair defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Marta Kostyuk 1-6, 6-4, 6-1 to reach the final. Paolini and Errani are currently on a 10-match winning streak. Last month, they won the WTA 1000 Italian Open and currently, they’re going strong in the French capital. 

Desirae Krawczyk/Caroline Dolehide vs Katerine Siniakova/Coco Gauff

American tennis star Coco Gauff has changed a couple of doubles partners in the last few months and interestingly, she has managed to find success on all the occasions. During the hardcourt season, she was playing against Jessica Pegula. After Pegula suffered an injury, Gauff partnered with Taylor Townsend at the Madrid Open.

She later teamed up with New Zealand’s Erin Routliffe to reach the final of the Italian Open, eventually losing to Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani in three sets. Moreover, she has teamed up with Katerine Siniakova ahead of the clay court Major. Thus, she’s set to play her second doubles French Open semifinal after they defeated Desirae Krawczyk and Caroline Dolehide.