News and updates from around the grounds on Day 13 at Roland-Garros
©Pauline Ballet / FFT
23:20Just two more days to go at Roland-Garros 2024. Where has the time gone?
There are a host of finals tomorrow so check back in the morning to find out about the day's action.
The hot ticket in town is the women's final: Iga Swiatek is going for her third consecutive Roland-Garros title – the elusive three-peat. Italian Grand Slam final debutante Jasmine Paolini is going to try to stop her.
22:31If you missed the first semi-final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner you can enjoy Dan Imhoff's extensive report and analysis of that thrilling five-setter.
Dan then sat in Jannik Sinner's press listening to the Italian's philosophical assessment of the day's events. Below you can hear for yourself what the Italian thought about his performance with these highlights from his press conference.
22:20 22:10Alexander Zverev hammers his way into the second Grand Slam final of his career with a four-set victory over Casper Ruud.
Once he’d found his range, the world No.4 served big and dominated the Norwegian from the back of the court to move into his first major final since the 2020 US Open.
Zverev is only the second German men’s singles finalist in Paris in the Open era, and the first since Michael Stich in 1996.
22:00Alexander Zverev is getting closer to another Grand Slam final after an early break in the fourth. The German holds for 4-2 to move to within two games of a place in Sunday's title decider against Carlos Alcaraz. Zverev has hit 49 winners so far, including 17 aces.
21:30Alexander Zverev is a set away from his first Roland-Garros final after a single break in the fifth game of the third set is enough for him to take control of the second semi-final.
When the world No.4 walked out to serve at 5-4, Zverev had only dropped four points on serve across the second and third sets, but nerves seemed to strike as he stepped up to the line.
The German threw in back-to-back double faults to find himself break point down before rediscovering his first delivery just in time, slamming down three big first serves to hold and move into a two sets to one lead.
21:10Away from Chatrier today two women's doubles semi-finals were settled and we're guaranteed a star-studded final on Sunday. Jasmine Paolini and Sara Errani will try to continue Italy's remarkable success over the last fortnight here in Paris. They'll face Coco Gauff and Katerina Siniakova for the title on the final day of the tournament.
21:05Casper Ruud holds for 2-1 in the third and the doctor arrives for the Norwegian. He appears to be suffering with a stomach problem and the doctor leaves some tablets for Casper. He's back out with Zverev serving at 1-2 third set.
20:49Alexander Zverev turns this second semi-final on its head with a 35-minute second set by the same scoreline 6-2 to make it one set all heading into a third. The German's stats were very impressive from that half an hour. He hit 15 winners against just four unforced errors and won 92 percent of points behind his first serve – 11 of 12 going the world No.4’s way.
20:10What a start to the second semi-final from Casper Ruud. Despite not having played since Monday when he beat Taylor Fritz in the last 16 before his walkover against the injured Novak Djokovic, the Norwegian has flown through his opener against Alexander Zverev in 35 minutes. Ruud has twice reached the final here in Paris. He’s well on his way to making it a hat-trick on Chatrier this evening.
20:00If you like stunning tennis photography then you're in the right place. Enjoy this collection of pictures from the first semi-final taken by the FFT team of official photographers.
©Corinne Dubreuil / FFT 19:56Beaten semi-finalist Jannik Sinner has been into press and was philosophical about his five-set defeat before looking ahead to the grass season.
“I think it was a great match,” Sinner said. “For sure the sets he won he played better in the important points, no? I think that was the key.
“Maybe couple of days off. Then physical stuff. And that's it. I mean, you know, grass season is different. The preparation is different.
“I'm looking forward to it. I mean, last year I had a great Wimbledon, so let's see what I can do this year.”
19:10 19:00The second men’s semi-final will be on court at 7.22pm here in Paris – two-time Paris finalist Casper Ruud against four-time semi-finalist Alexander Zverev.
The winner players Alcaraz on Sunday.
18:56Carlos Alcaraz tells the crowd he doesn't mind how much pain he has to endure en route to another Grand Slam final.
"You have to find the joy in suffering – that’s the key," he says.
"Even more here at Roland-Garros. You have to fight, you have to suffer… you have to enjoy suffering."
18:49Carlos Alcaraz outlasts Jannik Sinner over five sets after four hours and 9 minutes to move into his first Roland-Garros final. The Spaniard hits back from a set and an early break down – and from two sets to one behind – to win 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to reach his third major final after winning the US Open in 2022 and Wimbledon in 2023. Alcaraz struck 65 winners. He’ll play either Alexander Zverev or Casper Ruud in Sunday’s final when we’re guaranteed a new men’s champion.
18:28As Carlos Alcaraz comes through a long game to open up a 4-1 lead in the final set, lets enjoy Friday's Shot of the Day from earlier in the match. How's this for a forehand pass... 👀
18:15A moment of pure magic helps Carlos Alcaraz get the early break in the fifth. With Sinner serving at 0-1 deuce the Spaniard produces the perfect angled backhand pass on the slide – just a flick of the wrists – and he thumps another winner straight afterwards to go up 2-0. An Alcaraz hold to 30 makes it 3-0 final set.
©Cédric Lecocq / FFT 18:00If you like your stats, here's an interesting number. Carlos Alcaraz has only ever lost one five-set match - against Matteo Berrettini in Australia in 2022 - and has won his other nine. Jannik Sinner's five-set record reads won six, lost seven.
17:55With Sinner serving at 4-5, the combination of a brilliant Alcaraz lob and a missed overhead wide from Sinner makes it 30-all and the Spaniard torches a backhand up the line to bring up set point. Alcaraz opens up the court with an angled forehand and smacks a backhand winner into the gap to convert that set point. He's got the fourth set 6-4. WE’RE GOING FIVE…
17:49Sinner plays his best game of the set – he hit an incredible forehand winner midway through the game – to level again for 4-4. Despite throwing in a double fault early in the ninth game – and a brief disturbance in the crowd while a fan receives medical attention just behind Sinner’s baseline – Alcaraz holds under pressure to edge ahead 5-4. Both players are starting to raise their games towards the sharp end of this set...
17:43Maximilian Taucher has won his second Roland-Garros title of the day with a win in the junior boys’ wheelchair doubles final. He and partner Ruben Harris beat Yassin Hill and Ivar van Rijt 7-5, 6-4.
It was a double defeat for Van Rijt, who lost out to Taucher in the singles final earlier today.
17:31Jannik Sinner comes through another service game to level at 3-3 in the fourth. It's been a bit of a slow-burner this fourth set so far, but there haven't been any real signs of those physical issues for Sinner in this set. He's three games from the final...
17:20Remember later today on Chatrier Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev will feature in the second men's semi-final. Casper's currently backstage practising his swing... Golf swing... 🏌️
17:07Despite his physical issues (the trainer has been out to massage the Italian’s legs since working on his right arm earlier in the set) Jannik Sinner toughs out the remainder of the third to take it 6-3 and go up two sets to one. Although the second seed is only a set from the final now, it’s going to be fascinating to see whether his body can withstand a fourth – and potentially a fifth – set. Alcaraz has to make him work…
16:52The Saturday schedule is out. Chatrier starts at 11am with Dutch wheelchair legend Diede De Groot going for her 14th successive Grand Slam singles title against Zhenzhen Zhu from China.
The women's singles final between Iga Swiatek and Italy's Jasmine Paolini starts not before 3pm.
That's followed by the men's doubles final when Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori battle ninth seeds Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo.
16:46Jannik Sinner survives a marathon service game to move ahead 3-2 in the third and calls the trainer for treatment to his right forearm and hand during the sitdown. He seemed to be struggling physically all of a sudden during that last game. He’s been shaking out his arms between points, perhaps feeling the onset of cramp in his right hand. Sinner’s serve speeds are down a touch too.
16:33A thumping deep return from Sinner on break point puts Alcaraz on his heels and the Italian steps up the court to take on the next forehand to finish the point. It’s a break apiece early in the second at 2-2.
16:30A beauty of a backhand pass on the slide and a big smile on the face of Carlos Alcaraz because it’s come on break point. The Spaniard makes the first move in the third with that breakthrough for 2-1. He seems to be playing with a bit more freedom and a touch more energy than the Italian at this stage.
16:19Now it’s time to race through the junior draws ahead of tomorrow’s finals.
Lorenzo Carboni, who knocked out No.1 seed Rei Sakamoto in the quarter-finals is the first Italian to reach a Roland-Garros boys’ singles final for 30 years. He will play USA No.5 seed Kaylan Bigun.
The boys’ doubles final line-up is still to be decided. Sakamoto gets another crack at things with partner Federico Cina if they can beat Alexander Razeghi and Max Schoenhaus. The winners will meet either No.1 seeds Nicolai Budkov Kjaer and Joel Schwaerzler or Timofei Derepasko and Amir Omarkhanov, who are currently on Court 14.
In a mirror of the boys’ singles, Tereza Valentova knocked out the No.1 seed in the quarter-finals. She is now into an all-Czech girls’ singles final – the first at any Grand Slam – against No.3 seed Laura Samson.
Samson and Valentova could be across the net from each other in the girls’ doubles final. No.1 seeds Samson and compatriot Alena Kovckova play their semi-final against Tyra Caterina Grant and Iva Jovic of the USA. In the other semi-final, Valentova partners another Czech, Renata Jamrichova, against Australia’s Emerson Jones and Vittoria Paganetti.
©Clément Mahoudeau / FFT 16:08A great response and a great set from Carlos Alcaraz who takes the second 6-3 to make it a set apiece after an hour and 29 minutes. He found another gear from a set and a break down and now has the momentum heading into the third.
16:00The momentum has shifted in the last 15 minutes and it’s all Carlos Alcaraz now on Chatrier. He’s thumping his groundstrokes - without the misses now - and whatever it was that was stopping him from playing his best tennis for the first hour is now a distant memory. Alcaraz breaks again for 4-2, fights his way to another hold of serve and from 0-2 that’s five games in a row for the reigning Wimbledon champion who leads 5-2 second set.
15:47A hold and a break gets Carlos Alcaraz back into this second set at 2-2 and a massive roar goes up inside Chatrier. It’s not that they have anything against Jannik Sinner, but this sell-out crowd wants to see this semi-final really catch fire. The Spaniard holds and he’s up 3-2 second set. That's the best passage of play he's produced in this match so far...
©Nicolas Gouhier / FFT 15:42Gustavo Kuerten knows a thing or two about delivering under pressure on Chatrier. The three-time champ (1997, 2000 and 2001) is in place to enjoy men's semi-finals day...
15:33In a carbon copy of the opener, Sinner breaks early - for a fourth time in the match already - to jump ahead in the second and consolidates to go up 6-2, 2-0 after roughly an hour on court. Alcaraz is still giving away too many cheap points with misses – the unforced error count climbs to 18 for the match for the Spaniard.
15:20A surprisingly one-sided first set goes the way of Jannik Sinner after 40 minutes. All in all he’s been pretty solid on serve and will get a massive confidence boost from breaking Alcaraz three times in that opening set. The Spaniard has hit 12 unforced errors so far and needs to tidy up that number. And he needs a fast start to this second set...
15:10Carlos Alcaraz recovers one of the breaks of serve to get the scores back to 2-4. It took the Spaniard 23 minutes to win his first return point. After all that effort though he then drops serve for a third time in the set when Sinner comes through an extended exchange on break point.
The Italian will serve for a one-set lead...
15:09France has a second trophy winner this Roland-Garros.
Over on Court 12, No.1 seed Ksenia Chasteau has taken the title in the inaugural junior girls’ wheelchair singles final, beating Maylee Phelps 6-2, 6-3
Chasteau will return to court later this afternoon to partner with Phelps as they take on Vitoria Miranda and Yuma Takamuro in the girls’ doubles.
14:55It’s all Jannik Sinner early on. The Italian breaks in the opening game, bags an easy hold and breaks again to go up 3-0 double break after just under quarter-of-an-hour. The world No.2 then holds to love for a second time to make it 4-0. He hasn't dropped a point on serve yet.
14:30We're moments away from our first men's semi-final featuring second seed Jannik Sinner against third seed Carlos Alcaraz who are both looking to move into their first final in Paris. Sinner aims to add to his 12-match winning streak at the majors this year after capturing his first Grand Slam in Australia in January.
It's a ninth meeting and their series is tied 4-4, with Alcaraz winning their most recent battle on the hard courts of Indian Wells in March.
It's a beautiful day in Paris, blue skies and sunshine. Let's do it...
14:19Here’s a rapid dash through the wheelchair competitions at Roland-Garros 2024 ahead of all the senior finals tomorrow.
In the men’s singles, No.1 seed Alfie Hewett was knocked out in the semi-finals by Gustavo Fernandez, who now faces No.2 seed Tokito Oda in the final.
Oda will also feature in the men’s doubles final alongside partner Takuya Miki, with Hewett having another chance at a trophy with partner Gordon Reid if they beat Fernandez and Stephane Houdet in their semi-final this afternoon.
No.1 seed Diede de Groot is aiming for her 14th consecutive Grand Slam women’s singles title. China’s Zhenzhen Zhu will try to stop her in the final.
De Groot and fellow Dutchwoman Aniek Van Koot pair up in the women’s doubles to meet either No.1 seeds Yui Kamiji and Kgothatso Montjane or Dana Mathewson and Manami Tanaka, who are currently in action on Court 7.
In the Quad events, No.1 seed Niels Vink had his singles campaign ended in the semi-finals by Guy Sasson, who now faces No.2 seed Sam Schroder in the final.
Schroder and Vink team up in the doubles as No.1 seeds and face either Robert Shaw and David Wagner or No.2 seeds Andy Lapthorne and Sasson – they are currently in action on Court 13.
And in the inaugural junior events, Maximilian Taucher took the boys’ singles title earlier today. Currently on court 12, Ksenia Chastau is battling Maylee Phelps for the girls’ singles trophy, with boys’ and girls’ doubles finals following later today.
And breathe...
©️Philippe Montigny / FFT 14:14The Czech Republic is well known for its strength in depth, particularly in the women’s game where they currently boast six players inside the top 50 of the WTA rankings. It’s a trend that looks like continuing given their success in the girls’ singles here in Paris.
Czech 16-year-old and third seed Laura Samson beat American Kristina Penickova in the semi-finals 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 today and it could be the first-ever all-Czech junior Grand Slam final with another of their prospects, 12th seed Tereza Valentova, leading another American, Tyra Caterina Grant, in the other semi 6-3, 4-3 on Court 14.
13:50American Kaylan Bigun enjoyed a significant win in front of a big Court 14 crowd early this afternoon when he beat the Austrian second seed in the boys' singles Joel Schwaezler 2-6, 6-3, 6-4. The 18-year-old won a big ITF junior event in Milan coming into the Paris major and will play either Lorenzo Carboni (yet another Italian doing well here this week) or Poland's Tomasz Berkieta. They're under way in their semi-final on Court 6.
13:40It’s semi-finals day in the women’s doubles today and, incredibly, Italian Jasmine Paolini could feature in two finals this weekend. The 28-year-old plays Iga Swiatek in the women’s singles final on Saturday and plays in the doubles semis on Simonne-Mathieu with partner Sara Errani this afternoon against Marta Kostyuk and Elena-Gabriela Ruse.
The last woman to win singles and doubles at Roland-Garros was Barbora Krejcikova in 2021.
In the other doubles semi-final Coco Gauff is back to team up with Katerina Siniakova to face Caroline Dolehide and Desirae Krawczyk.
13:29No.1 seed Austria's Maximilian Taucher has won the inaugural junior boys' wheelchair singles trophy here at Roland-Garros.
He beat second seeded Ivar van Rijt of the Netherlands 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 [10-8] in an enthralling encounter that was a great showcase for these new events.
Taucher and Van Rijt face each other over the net again this afternoon when they meet for the doubles final. The Austrian is pairing up with Brit Ruben Harris to face Van Rijt and Australia's Yassin Hill.
Next up on Court 12, France's No.1 seed Ksenia Chasteau takes on Maylee Phelps of the USA in the junior girls' wheelchair singles final.
13:12Out on Court Simonne-Mathieu men's doubles top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos are in good shape so far against ninth seeds Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo, up a set 6-3 and on serve early in the second in that semi-final. Italians Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori are waiting for the winners in the final having won their semi yesterday.
13:03Just 90 minutes to go until the first men's singles semi-final of Roland-Garros 2024.
Third seed Carlos Alcaraz and second seed Jannik Sinner will fight it out on Court Philippe-Chatrier for a place in Sunday's final.
12:30We have our first result from Court Philippe-Chatrier where the Japanese team of Takuya Miki and Tokito Oda have eased past the French pair Frederic Cattaneo and Guilhem Laget 6-1, 6-1 in the men's wheelchair doubles semis. The other semi-final features British top seeds Alfie Hewett and Gordon Reid taking on Argentina's Gustavo Fernandez and Frenchman Stephane Houdet. That's on Court 7 later today.
Oda and Fernandez are hoping to leave with two men's trophies this weekend as both are into the men's singles final too.
11:53We have a semi-final!
11:50Not before 17:30.
Neither has won a Grand Slam title, but one of them will be in contention come Sunday. They have both been close: this is Alexander Zverev’s fourth consecutive semi-final, and Casper Ruud has been runner-up here the past two years.
Read Alix Ramsay’s preview of the clash.
Watch the highlights of Zverev’s quarter final against Alex de Minaur and hear his thoughts on the match afterwards.
>> ZVEREV MAKES IT FOUR FROM FOUR
Casper Ruud beat Taylor Fritz in the fourth round and then moved straight to the semi-final following the withdrawal of Novak Djokovic.
Read Alex Sharp’s piece about changes that Ruud has made over the last year.
>> LEAN AND MEAN RUUD READY TO RUMBLE
We'll be testing you later...
13:32That's a good start...
11:27Not before 14:30
The former No.1 against the new No.1. Two players who have already tasted Grand Slam success, Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner are on the hunt for another crown.
If you want to do some homework beforehand:
Read Alix Ramsay’s preview of the match and discover what Chris Oddo found out when he went for a walk around the grounds to see what the fans thought.
Watch the highlights of Alcaraz’s quarter-final against Stefanos Tsitsipas and hear what he had to say afterwards.
>> ALCARAZ SPEEDS INTO ROLAND-GARROS SEMI-FINALS
Here’s a reminder of Jannik Sinner’s quarter-final against Grigor Dimitrov, and watch Sinner’s press conference.
>> SINNER FIRES PAST DIMITROV ON WAY TO SUMMIT
Victoria Chiesa gave us her thoughts on Sinner’s rise, and Dan Imhoff spoke to three-time Roland-Garros champion Mats Wilander to see what he had to say about the Italian.
11:10Read more about what's going on around the grounds at Roland-Garros today to celebrate Pride.
11:00It’s the men’s semi-finals this afternoon on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
In the first, after 14:30, No.2 seed and this year’s Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner faces third seed and two-time Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz.
After that, not before 17:30, fourth seed Alexander Zverev takes on No.7 seed Casper Ruud. Neither player has lifted the silverware at a Grand Slam before, but both have been close.
But before that there’s plenty of tennis here in Paris including four, yes FOUR, trophies to be awarded 🏆🏆🏆🏆
Court 14 hosts FINALS today in the junior wheelchair competitions, which are new at Roland-Garros this year. First up at 11:00, Austrian No.1 seed Maximilian Taucher takes on No.2 seed Ivar van Rijt of the Netherlands.
Court Philippe-Chatrier gets under way at 11:00 with the semi-finals of the men’s wheelchair doubles. The unseeded French pair of Guilhem Laget and Frederic Cattaneo face the No.2 seeds from Japan Takuya Miki and Tokito Oda.
Still not enough tennis? There is plenty more going on around the grounds today so keep checking back.
ROLAND-GARROS
19 May - 8 June 2025
