Top seed Iga Swiatek and second seed Aryna Sabalenka set up a blockbuster French Open women’s semi-final clash, while Carlos Alcaraz stormed into the men’s semi-finals with a straight-sets victory at Roland Garros.
Swiatek, the defending champion, defeated American fifth seed Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4 on Court Philippe-Chatrier, converting 4 of 7 break points and hitting 22 winners in a 97-minute match. The 24-year-old Pole, chasing her fourth French Open title, showcased her clay-court mastery, winning 90% of her first-serve points despite Gauff’s late rally.
Sabalenka, meanwhile, outclassed Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva 6-3, 6-2, leveraging her 28 winners and 80% first-serve accuracy to reach her second Roland Garros semi-final. The Belarusian, a 2025 Australian Open champion, aims to dethrone Swiatek, who leads their head-to-head 6-3.
In the men’s draw, third seed Alcaraz crushed eighth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-3, 7-6(3), 6-2, firing 33 winners and breaking serve four times in two hours, 15 minutes. The 22-year-old Spaniard, a 2024 finalist, faces either Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic next, with a potential final against Rafael Nadal, who advanced past Casper Ruud.
The semi-finals, watched by 15,000 fans despite rain delays, highlight a generational shift, as Alcaraz’s 85% win rate in 2025 positions him as a favorite. Social media buzzed with excitement, though some criticized Andreeva’s 25 unforced errors. Swiatek-Sabalenka’s rivalry, with 60% of their matches decided in straight sets, promises a tactical battle, while Alcaraz’s form signals a new era in men’s tennis.