Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz delivered a masterclass at Roland Garros as he dismantled 12th seed Tommy Paul in straight sets to book his place in the French Open semi-finals.
The 22-year-old Spaniard, seeded second, needed just 53 minutes to race through the first two sets, dropping only one game, before closing out a 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 win in 94 minutes on Court Philippe-Chatrier.
American Paul, playing in his first French Open quarter-final, showed more resilience in the third set, but Alcaraz broke at 4-4 and served out the match with composure and clinical precision.
Alcaraz will now face Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, who earlier beat Frances Tiafoe 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-2 to reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the second time, having made the last four at Wimbledon in 2024.
The 23-year-old eighth seed was tested by Tiafoe, the first American man in a Roland Garros quarter-final in 22 years, but ultimately overpowered him with his fluid and creative game. Tiafoe struggled to recover after losing a tense third set and faded in the fourth.
Alcaraz Delivers “Statement” Performance
After a string of four-set matches earlier in the tournament, Alcaraz raised his level dramatically against Paul, mixing thunderous groundstrokes with delicate drop shots and clever lobs to devastating effect. He created 17 break points, converting six, while Paul was unable to generate a single one.
“It was one of those matches where everything went in,” Alcaraz said post-match, jokingly apologising to fans for the brief evening session.
Former British number one Greg Rusedski, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, called the performance “magnificent” and said it was a “statement” from the world number two.
Paul, 28, had no answers early on and only began to find his rhythm in the third set. Despite a stronger showing on serve, he was ultimately outclassed in what was his best run at the French Open.
Musetti Maturing On and Off the Court
Alcaraz’s next opponent, Musetti, has been in red-hot clay-court form, with 19 wins this season and only three losses — two of them to Alcaraz in Rome and Monte Carlo.
Renowned for his elegant one-handed backhand and old-school technique, Musetti credits his recent growth to life off the court. After becoming a father last year, he says he now approaches his career with greater maturity and discipline.
“This is not just about growing as a player, but as a person,” said the Tuscan native. “Being a father gave me extra responsibility. Now, I take a more professional approach to training and matches, and value my time with my family even more.”
Musetti dedicated his win over Tiafoe to his family, especially his partner Veronica and their son Ludovico, as the couple prepares to welcome their second child.
The Italian did receive a warning during the second set for accidentally hitting a line judge with a ball he kicked away in frustration. The umpire issued a caution, in line with rules that require “clear harm” for a default.
Alcaraz and Musetti will now meet for the third time on clay this year, with the Spaniard looking to extend his unbeaten run over the Italian—and book his place in a second consecutive French Open final.
