Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner LIVE: French Open latest score and results from men’s semi-final at Roland Garros before Alexander Zverev vs Casper Ruud

The next big rivalry in tennis has become the rivalry: which, in part, is owed to how entertaining their encounters have been. The head-to-head is evenly poised with four wins each – Alcaraz won their last meeting in the Indian Wells semi-finals, when he ended Sinner’s 19-match streak – but it is as if Alcaraz and Sinner’s styles have been made for each other. Take last season’s ATP point of the year in the Miami semi-finals: both players stretching the court to its limits, yet still finding new angles.

So much has changed since Alcaraz and Sinner’s unforgettable five-set, five-hour clash in New York two years ago. Alcaraz prevailed at 3am in the latest finish in US Open history, opening the door to his first grand slam title at 19 and becoming the youngest world No 1 in history. When a second grand-slam title followed at Wimbledon, with his titanic five-set win over Novak Djokovic, the Spaniard had elevated himself to a different level from his peers.

Sinner, though, has joined him. After comprehensively beating Djokovic in Melbourne and then launching an extraordinary comeback against Daniil Medvedev to win the Australian Open final, Sinner and Alcaraz will meet in the French Open semi-finals as equals; as grand-slam champions and world No 1s, having also beaten Djokovic on the biggest stages. Their paths to the top were different, and instructive: Alcaraz’s ascent was explosive, Sinner’s journey was more considered and patient.

“It’s a great achievement, but I want to measure myself on this surface, on the clay. It’s a surface where I struggle a lot sometimes and especially the beginning. We have seen this in the last years. I’m even more happy to be in the semis.

“I came here with some doubts, physical doubts, and my body seems stronger and stronger day by day, which for me was the main goal coming here. I’m happy that I have a chance to play here in a very important match for myself in the semis. Then we’ll see what I can do.”

Alexander Zverev has reached an out-of-court settlement with his former girlfriend, who accused the German tennis star of strangling her during an argument in May 2020.

According to reports in Germany, the settlement includes a monetary condition of 200,000 euros, with Zverev not found guilty of any wrongdoing, a statement from his lawyers said.

“The process against Alexander Zverev was shelved today by the court with the agreement of the prosecutor’s office and Ms Brenda Patea,” a statement from the World No 4’s defence team said on Friday, hours before his French Open semi-final against Casper Ruud.

“Alexander Zverev agreed to this in order to shorten the process especially in the interest of the child they have together. Alexander Zverev remains innocent.”

Carlos Alcaraz ahead of facing Jannik Sinner in the French Open semi-finals:

“Probably a little bit more nerves before facing him. I’m not going to lie. He probably is one of the most difficult challenges that we can face in tennis right now. I think he’s the best player in the world.

“It’s going to be an interesting one. The matches that we’ve played before have been unbelievable games. I think everybody wants to watch this match.

“Everything he does, he does it perfectly. The way that he hits the ball is unbelievable. The way he moves, it’s really, really [good]. He pushes you to the limit in every ball, in every point. I think it is the hardest thing to face Jannik.

“At the same time, I love that. I love these kind of matches. I love this kind of challenge, to have a really difficult battle against him.”

Alcaraz and Sinner arrived at Roland Garros bright and early for this afternoon’s semi-final. After the rain of the first week, it should be clear and sunny on Philippe-Chatrier. Good conditions for attacking tennis.

Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have met eight times, with their head-to-head level at four wins each.

2023 – Alcaraz, Indian Wells

2024 – Alcaraz, Indian Wells

As the news of Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal from the French Open began to spread around Roland Garros, a clip of Carlos Alcaraz talking about his rival started to resurface on social media. But not that one – the other one. Last November, ahead of the ATP Finals in Turin, Alcaraz was asked if the Italian Jannik Sinner could be a contender at the grand slams in 2024. “I’ve no doubt about it,” Alcaraz replied, before the 21-year-old went a step further. “I think he’s going to reach world No 1 in 2024.”

Alcaraz’s prediction has already proved correct. With Djokovic forced to pull out of the French Open due to a torn medial meniscus in his right knee, Sinner was confirmed as the new men’s No 1 following his straight-sets win over Grigor Dimitrov. At 22, Sinner is the first Italian to reach No 1, his new ranking confirming what has been clear to everyone since he won the Australian Open in January, or even before. “Right now he’s the best player in the world,” Alcaraz said.

Given the Spaniard’s powers of prediction, perhaps he could have seen Friday’s match-up on the horizon, too. The French Open has its dream semi-final, the one tennis has been waiting for: Alcaraz vs Sinner, the two best players of their generation, facing each other at a grand slam and best-of-five sets for the first time since their US Open epic in 2022. “It’s the match everybody wants to watch,” said Alcaraz, after thrashing Stefanos Tsitsipas in his quarter-final.

Preview of today’s semi-final

You can watch the French Open live on Discovery+ and Eurosport in the UK. The action will be broadcast on Eurosport’s TV channels, or fans can tune into Discovery+ to stream the tournament, where an Entertainment & Sport pass is available for either £6.99/month or £59.99/year.

Watch every moment of Roland-Garros LIVE and exclusive on discovery+, Eurosport and Eurosport App

Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner

Alexander Zverev vs Casper Ruud