Sinner, Alcaraz book semi-final spot at French Open, Swiatek to face Sabalenka

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner continued his quest for a first French Open title with a commanding 6-1, 7-5, 6-0 win over Kazakhstan’s Alexander Bublik on Wednesday, booking his spot in the Roland Garros semi-finals.

The victory marked Sinner’s sixth Grand Slam semi-final appearance—making him the first Italian man to achieve the feat—and extended his major winning streak to 19 matches, following triumphs at the 2023 U.S. Open and 2024 Australian Open.

After a rain-delayed morning, the retractable roof on Court Philippe Chatrier opened and so did the floodgates, as Sinner raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set. Bublik briefly resisted, but Sinner closed the set with ease. The Kazakh brought out his signature drop shots in the second set, pushing Sinner to 5-5 before the Italian capitalized on a lapse to break and take a two-set lead. The final set was one-way traffic, with Sinner dominating and even shrugging off Bublik’s failed underarm serve as he cruised into the final four. He’ll next face either Alexander Zverev or Novak Djokovic.

Alcaraz Flattens Paul in Quarter-Final Rout

Meanwhile, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz delivered a breathtaking display to dismantle American 12th seed Tommy Paul 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 in just 94 minutes. The 22-year-old Spaniard blasted winners from all angles and left Paul looking completely out of sorts in one of the most lopsided men’s quarter-finals in recent memory.

Alcaraz needed just 53 minutes to take the first two sets and, despite Paul briefly leading 4-3 in the third, the Spaniard surged again to win three straight games and seal the win. “It felt like I could close my eyes and everything would go in,” Alcaraz said. “It was one of those matches where everything just clicked.”

Alcaraz will meet Lorenzo Musetti in the semi-finals after the Italian overcame Frances Tiafoe in four sets, surviving a shaky second set and a moment of controversy.

Musetti Escapes Ball-Kicking Incident in Win Over Tiafoe

Musetti, ranked seventh, reached his first French Open semi-final by defeating 15th-seeded Tiafoe and continuing his strong clay-court season. However, his match included a contentious moment when he accidentally kicked a ball that struck a line judge. He received only a warning for unsportsmanlike conduct.

“It was an unlucky coincidence,” Musetti said. “I was scared because I didn’t mean to harm anyone. I immediately apologized.”

While the judge seemed unbothered, Tiafoe called the lack of serious punishment “comical,” suggesting the rules were applied inconsistently. “Obviously he did that and nothing happened... but it is what it is,” Tiafoe said.

Swiatek, Sabalenka Set Up Blockbuster Semi-Final

On the women’s side, Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka set up a highly anticipated semi-final showdown. Swiatek, aiming to become the first woman in the Open Era to win four straight French Open titles, defeated Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-5, extending her unbeaten run at Roland Garros to 26 matches.

Though she hadn’t won a title in 2024 before Paris, Swiatek looks back in top form, chasing a fifth French Open crown to add to her 2020, 2022, 2023 titles.

Sabalenka, a three-time Grand Slam champion, ended Zheng Qinwen’s 10-match Roland Garros win streak with a 7-6(3), 6-3 victory. She is still searching for her first French Open title.

“We’re all here for one reason—everyone wants that beautiful trophy,” Sabalenka said. “I’m glad I have another chance to go further than last time. I hope I’ll be proud of myself by the end of this clay season.