Paris, June 4 (AFP/APP):Three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek set up a blockbuster French Open semi-final clash with world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Tuesday, as reigning men’s holder Carlos Alcaraz powered his way into the last four.
Alcaraz blew away American 12th seed Tommy Paul for the loss of just five games in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The Spaniard needed just one hour 34 minutes to dismantle Paul 6-0, 6-1, 6-4 and set up a last-four meeting with Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti.
“I’m sorry you wanted to watch more tennis, I had to do my work,” Alcaraz told the crowd.
“It was one of those matches where I could close my eyes and everything went in. It was like my feeling today was unbelievable.”
Earlier, Swiatek, the fifth seed, got past Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-5, after top women’s seed Sabalenka won a tense quarter-final against Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.
World number five Swiatek has been struggling for her best form and has not reached a final since winning the French Open title last year.
But she gave 13th seed Svitolina little opportunity on her favoured clay surface, breaking in the fourth game to ease through the first set, in windy conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier.
The pair exchanged consecutive breaks of serve early in the second set, before Swiatek forced the breakthrough at 5-5 with a powerful forehand down the line.
She then sealed the win with back-to-back aces.
“Even though the first set, the score looks pretty straightforward, it wasn’t,” said Swiatek.
“I had to fight for every point.”
