The US Open champion demolished Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets on Tuesday to set up a mouthwatering clash with Novak Djokovic.
Friday’s other semi-final sees last year’s runner-up Casper Ruud take on Alexander Zverev, who is 8/1 in the French Open betting.
Carlos Alcaraz
The world number one has dropped just one set in Paris ahead of his blockbuster encounter with Djokovic, a player he has faced just once before, in Madrid just over a year ago when he fought back from a set down to reach the final he went on to win.
Four months later he went on to win the US Open and having missed the Australian Open through injury, he is on course to add a second successive major to his burgeoning CV.
The 20-year-old Spaniard said: “This match is one everyone wanted to watch. I would say it’s going to be a really good match to play and to watch as well. I really wanted to play this match as well.
“I always say that if you want to be the best you have to beat the best. Novak Djokovic right now is one of the best players in the world, so it’s going to be a really tough challenge for me. But I’m really looking forward to that match, playing at such a great level.”
Chances: The clash with Djokovic would have made an ideal final and the winner of Friday’s match is likely to win the French Open.
The former world number one went on to prevail 4-6 7-6 (0) 6-2 6-4 after which he said: “He was the better player for most of the first two sets. I was struggling to find my rhythm. I came into the match a bit sluggish, but I played a perfect tie-break and then played a couple of levels higher.
Djokovic, hoping to win a record 23rd grand slam on Sunday, also struggled against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round, so has not had things all his own way over the course of the fortnight.
Chances: Beat Alcaraz and he’s almost there, but that’s easier said than done.
Zverev booked a spot in the last four for a third successive year with a four-sets victory over surprise package Tomas Etcheverry and faces Casper Ruud for a place in the final.
The German left Philippe Chatrier in a wheelchair 12 months ago after being forced to retire with what turned out to be a season-ending ankle injury during a compelling last-four clash with Rafael Nadal.
Zverev had struggled since returning to the tour in January but has buried his demons on the Parisian clay on which he has dropped just a couple of sets.
The 22nd seed, appearing in his sixth grand slam semi-final, holds a 2-1 lead over Ruud in the head to head but they have never met on clay and he lost their last encounter at last year’s Miami Open.
The odds suggest this will be a close match, but if he pulls through he can draw on the memory of last year’s French Open quarter-final win against Alcaraz should the Spaniard beat Djokovic.
Chances: Has done well to get this far and he looks ready to go further.
Last year’s runner-up is on another great run after quelling a Holger Rune fightback to seal a place in the semi-final with a 6-1 6-2 3-6 6-3 victory.
Rune ended a four-match losing streak against Ruud in Rome last month and the 20-year-old arrived in Paris as one of the main contenders for the title.
But a long five-setter against Francisco Cerundolo in the previous round appeared to have taken its toll and he did not get going until the end of the second set.
Despite appearing in his third grand slam semi-final, it has been a difficult season for the 24-year-old Norwegian but being back on his favoured clay has allowed him to rediscover his confidence.
He said: “He was hungry to get to his first semi-final and I was hungry to get back to the semi-finals again. I feel like my game is improving match by match. Playing Sascha (Zverev), it’s so great to see him back in the semi-finals. I think it’s going to be a great match.”
Chances: The duel with Zverev could go the distance and he has lost both grand slam finals he has appeared in, including last year’s US Open defeat to Alcaraz.
