French Open 2024 live updates (2024)

• Zverev (4) beats De Minaur (11) to reach men's semifinals.
• That was preceded by two shocks in the women's draw:
• Paolini (12) stunned Rybakina (4) to reach first Slam semi.
• Andreeva did likewise to Sabalenka (2).

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So we have Alexander Zverev through and the smile of Jasmine Paolini will also beam in the Roland Garros semifinals. But the story of the day has been 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva: the unseeded Russian who knocked out Aryna Sabalenka (2).

To put her win into context:

• At 17 years and 37 days, Andreeva became the youngest semifinalist in a women’s singles Grand Slam since Martina Hingis did the business at the 1997 US Open.
• Andreeva is now also the youngest women to defeat a top-2 opponent in a women’s singles Grand Slam since Jelena Dokic beat Hingis at Wimbledon in 1999, and the youngest at the French Open since Monica Seles in 1990 against Steffi Graf.

Some missed opportunities for Alex De Minaur then, but a great moment for fourth seed Alexander Zverev. He makes his fourth consecutive French Open semifinal. Here’s what he said on court after that:

💬 “Everybody in the press keeps asking what I do for recovery. You don’t recover after matches, you recover in the offseason. I like to work to my absolute limit, and if I do that then to play five sets is not difficult.

“The work is still paying off and I’m happy to make another semifinal. Hopefully I can now win one!

“This sport has given me everything, the biggest joys and the most pain. So if I can give back by putting joy on people’s faces, then I’ll keep doing that.”

Next up for Zverev? A semifinal reunion with Casper Rudd (7), who got that quarterfinal bye thanks to Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal and who beat Zverev in straight sets at the same point last year.

ZVEREV 6-4 7-6(5) 6-4 DE MINAUR

Alex De Minaur (11) is digging but he just can’t put a run of solid points together. On top of that, Alexander Zverev (4) is starting to find his power again.

It’s 30-30 as Zverev forces another error, which gives the German a first match point on De Minaur’s second serve — and the Australian sticks a cross-court backhand into the net.

Zverev is into another French Open semifinal, as De Minaur misses out on the last four at a Grand Slam once again. All in a minute shy of three hours.

ZVEREV 6-4 7-6(5) 5-4* DE MINAUR

You can see him tightening. A fifth double fault of the match has Zverev 0-30.

He gets it back to 30-30 but De Minaur earns a break point, comes to the net and pulls off a brilliant drop volley that grabs him a shot at hanging in there.

Now to consolidate.

ZVEREV 6-4 7-6(5) *5-3 DE MINAUR

De Minaur looks capable for a moment of repeating his trick from earlier in the match, and pulling an unlikely break out of the bag in response to being broken.

But this time, Zverev just about fends off his sole break point and holds his serve.

It takes him to within a game of winning the match. De Minaur holds on his serve — and that leaves the Germans to serve for his spot in the semifinals.

ZVEREV 6-4 7-6(5) *4-2 DE MINAUR

Oh no. A disaster for De Minaur, who slips to a couple of break points on serve — and then double faults to give Zverev a break in this third set.

With the German already two sets to the good, this could be a short march to the semifinals unless De Minaur can find something extra to make up for a rare double.

ZVEREV 6-4 7-6(5) 3-2* DE MINAUR

We’re ticking on through this third set as if it wasn’t there — although I’m sure it doesn’t feel like that for the participants.

Alex De Minaur has a few wobbles on his last service game but holds in the end, while Sacha Zverev looks more secure on his.

It’s like the calm before the storm right now; that storm coming at the end of this third set when Zverev could actually save himself some time on the court for once.

ZVEREV 6-4 7-6(5) 1-0* DE MINAUR

So I’m not saying it’s over. But I am saying that Alex De Minaur has never come from two sets down in his career.

I guess there’s always the promise of a first time…

ZVEREV 6-4 7-6 (7-5) DE MINAUR

De Minaur notably targeting Zverev’s forehand, and it’s working at times. In fact, both players are making mistakes at regular intervals.

Perhaps that’s just the pressure of the situation. De Minaur slips up again and we’re back on serve with two to come from Zverev.

De Minaur misses another baseline, then we get a treat of a 39-shot rally where the Aussie chops and changes the tempo with delight — but he also sticks a forehand wide and that takes him to the brink.

Zverev can’t take his first set point, but the second one he nails. The German points to his ear for the crowd’s benefit, and now he’s really in control of this quarterfinal.

ZVEREV 6-4 6-6 (*2-4) DE MINAUR

Bang! A couple of mini-breaks from Zverev this time as De Minaur goes long, and it’s a little more even and the changeover.

Zverev now serving.

ZVEREV 6-4 6-6 (0-4*) DE MINAUR

De Minaur loves this start. A couple of mini-breaks and some loose shots from Zverev, all adding up to good news for the Australian.

The Chatrier crowd is starting to get rowdy too, which isn’t helping the tension.

ZVEREV 6-4 6-6 DE MINAUR

De Minaur makes Zverev play an extra shot on one game point. Then Zverev goes long on what looks to be a banker for his second. It leaves the door ajar for the 11th seed.

De Minaur then lobs Zverev at the net — not for the first time tonight — and suddenly we’re at deuce.

It’s flying by the seat of your pants stuff from both players from here: missing smashes and bit net cords. De Minaur has a set point but it quickly disappears.

So does Zverev’s composure momentarily, after a time violation warning as he serves a crucial point.

But in the end, Zverev gets it done and we’re into a second-set tiebreak.

ZVEREV 6-4 *5-6 DE MINAUR

What a fabulous game of tennis, as De Minaur holds. There’s plenty of support for the Australian too. You can tell he’s become a bit of a favorite around Roland Garros.

Zverev to serve next. Hold and we’re into a tiebreak. Lose and we’re level.

That backhanded slice is such a rollercoaster ride for Alex De Minaur. It has alternately kept him in this second set and betrayed him when he needs it most.

He isn't down a break but I wonder whether he’ll keep going to it, just to keep Alexander Zverev on his toes. Remember, Zverev has been on court for nearly 10 hours during this tournament and while he can always rely on that 130mph-plus serve, if he gets Alcaraz’d up and down the court, his legs may give if we make it to a fourth or fifth set.

ZVEREV 6-4 *3-4 DE MINAUR

Well, that’s put me in my place. Zverev’s level drops on his service following that break, and De Minaur hits back with an immediate break.

He does well to find the platform, but getting over the line also owes to Zverev’s first double fault of the night.

De Minaur is extremely quick and he’s buzzing around Court Philippe-Chatrier with plenty of intent, fist-pumps aplenty. He holds to 15 and there’s now the sniff of a momentum change in this set.

ZVEREV 6-4 *3-2 DE MINAUR

It’s still early days and momentum can shift quickly. But there are a few signs now that Alexander Zverev (4) has got the gears needed to keep Alex De Minaur (11) at bay in Paris tonight.

He only needs one break point to hit the Australian in this second set, adding to his one-set lead.

De Minaur is competing well enough in general, but it’s going to take more than he’s managed so far to get under the German’s skin.

ZVEREV 6-4 *1-2 DE MINAUR

It’s all serene at the start of the second set then, as both hold to love in their opening service games.

Things are just as comfortable for De Minaur in the third too.

As a quick visit, it’s worth noting Zverev leads the head-to-head 7-2.

This is only their second meeting on clay. The first came two years ago, with Zverev winning 6-3, 7-6(5) at the ATP 1000 in Rome.

ZVEREV 6-4 0-0* DE MINAUR

“Let’s go!” screams Alexander Zverev (4) repeatedly, which is bad news for Alex De Minaur (11) — because it’s coming after some big point wins.

It gets a little scratchy as he serves for this first set, and De Minaur gets to 15-30. But from that point, Zverev puts his foot down and a clean winner after a short rally on his first set point gets it done.

Zverez grew as the set wore on. Now we’ve got De Minaur’s team shouting encouragement down to him as the second set gets underway.