Mirra Andreeva stunned the World No 2 Aryna Sabalenka to reach the French Open semi-finals, where the 17-year-old rising star will face the Italian Jasmine Paolini after a day of upsets at Roland Garros.
Andreeva defeated an out-of-sorts Sabalenka 6-7 6-4 6-4 on Court Philippe-Chatrier to claim the win of her life, a year on from reaching the third round as a qualifier. The Russian will play another first-time grand slam semi-finalist, after Paolini upset Elena Rybakina. The 28-year-old Italian and 12th seed prevailed 6-2 4-6 6-4 against the former Wimbledon champion.
The evening’s action will see the final men’s quarter-final with Alexander Zverev facing Alex de Minaur. Casper Ruud had been scheduled to play Novak Djokovic before the Serbian’s withdrawal from the tournament yesterday. Djokovic underwent a MRI scan after he limped through a five-set thriller against Francisco Cerundolo on Monday, which revealed a “torn medial meniscus in his right knee”.
Follow live updates and the latest scores from the French Open below
French Open LIVE: Latest tennis scores and results from Roland Garros
- French Open quarter-finals are underway at Roland Garros
- Alexander Zverev versus Alex de Minaur headlines evening session, not before 7.15pm
- Novak Djokovic withdraws from French Open, sending Casper Ruud through to semi-finals
- Mirra Andreeva stuns Aryna Sabalenka to reach French Open semi-finals
- Elena Rybakina beaten by Jasmine Paolini in first match on Court Philippe Chatrier
- Andreeva to face Paolini, with Iga Swiatek vs Coco Gauff in the other semi-final
French Open: *Alexander Zverev 6-4 1-2 Alex de Minaur
20:35 , Jamie Braidwood
Zverev is shouting up to his box as De Minaur holds to lead. He’s looking irritated with something.
French Open: Alexander Zverev 6-4 1-1 Alex de Minaur*
20:33 , Jamie Braidwood
Two quick holds of serve to start the second set. De Minaur looks like he needs a bit of a spark. I don’t think the length of time Zverev is taking over his serves is helping.
French Open: Alexander Zverev 6-4 Alex de Minaur* – SET
20:24 , Jamie Braidwood
The first set goes to Zverev as he slams a backhand winner past De Minaur! The Australian had given himself a half-chance after racing to a drop-shot and catching Zverev by surprise. But the fourth seed has taken over in the rallies, simply through power in several moments.
French Open: *Alexander Zverev 5-4 Alex de Minaur
20:18 , Jamie Braidwood
De Minaur forces Zverev to serve it out. The Australian had to battle from a set down against Daniil Medvedev in the previous round, so won’t get too down if he falls behind here.
French Open: Alexander Zverev 5-3 Alex de Minaur*
20:14 , Jamie Braidwood
A big chance for De Minaur after getting to 0-30 on the Zverev serve, as De Minaur coughs up two poor errors in a row. De Minaur that was an opportunity and Zverev slams down a big ace to get the hold.
French Open: *Alexander Zverev 4-3 Alex de Minaur – BREAK
20:08 , Jamie Braidwood
De Minaur gets a little wayward from the baseline as Zverev becomes solid against the serve. De Minaur goes long and Zverev gets a look at three break points: De Minaur looks up to the sky as he double faults to give the German the break.
French Open: Alexander Zverev 3-3 Alex de Minaur*
20:05 , Jamie Braidwood
Zverev double faults on 40-15 but is able to get his hold after digging in on the baseline and forcing the error from De MInaur. The Australian is playing some sublime shots around the net and put away another clever angled volley earlier in the game.
French Open: *Alexander Zverev 2-3 Alex de Minaur
19:59 , Jamie Braidwood
A good hold from De Minaur after Zverev had an opportunity as he flicked a forehand pass down the line. From there, De Minaur was solid and Zverev blinked on the forehand.
French Open: Alexander Zverev 2-2 Alex de Minaur* – BREAK
19:54 , Jamie Braidwood
De Minaur gets off to a super start against the Zverev serve, with two excellent volleys at the net. Zverev replies to win two punishing baseline rallies, holding firm, but a backhand error gives De Minaur another break point chance.
Zverev saves as De Minaur nets on the return, but a double fault brings up another break point.
LOB FROM DE MINAUR! Stunning! The Australian breaks straight back with a brilliant topspin lob.
French Open: *Alexander Zverev 2-1 Alex de Minaur – BREAK!
19:45 , Jamie Braidwood
Zverev gets the opening break as his backhand takes charge, with De Minaur coughing up a couple of errors against the big Zverev strike. The German landed a big winner down the line to get to break point, before De Minaur lands a slice into the net.
French Open: Alexander Zverev 1-1 Alex de Minaur*
19:41 , Jamie Braidwood
De Minaur gets a very early look at break point after landing an excellent sliced drop shot, in the rally of the match so far.
But Zverev closes the door behind huge serving. He takes an age to serve, though, particulary on the break point.
French Open: *Alexander Zverev 0-1 Alex de Minaur
19:35 , Jamie Braidwood
De Minaur holds to get on the board as Zverev goes long on a couple of returns.
De Minaur’s young fan, Paul. is just beside his players’ box, and is all kitted out in the Australian’s outfit.
French Open: Alexander Zverev vs Alex de Minaur
19:32 , Jamie Braidwood
Zverev has spent more than 13 hours on court so far this tournament, which is more than four hours more than De Minaur through their first rounds.
Can the 11th seed pull of the shock here? Let’s find out.
French Open: Alexander Zverev vs Alex de Minaur
19:25 , Jamie Braidwood
Here we go: the players are making their way out onto court.
I have a feeling this could be a long one. Will Zverev or De Minaur join Ruud in the semi-finals?
Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will be watching on, as well.
French Open: Alexander Zverev vs Alex de Minaur
19:21 , Jamie Braidwood
Zverev has the advantage in the head-to-head. The German has won seven of their nine matches, but it’s 1-1 this year. Both matches, in the United Cup and Indian Wells, went to three sets: De Minaur won at the United Cup but Zverev got one back in California.
Alexander Zverev and the allegations hanging over the French Open as assault trial begins
19:16 , Jamie Braidwood
Last week, Alexander Zverev claimed one of the biggest victories of his career as the world No 4 became just the third player in 19 years to defeat Rafael Nadal at the French Open. The 27-year-old announced himself as the favourite to win the title during the fortnight in Paris, beating the 14-time champion and the ‘King of Clay’ in straight sets.
But by Friday morning in Berlin, Zverev’s attention turned to a very different court. The German No 1 and reigning Olympic champion faces of trial at the Tiergarten District Court in Berlin, where he is charged with physically abusing a former girlfriend.
Zverev denies the allegations and is not required to appear at the trial in person, unless he is summoned by the judge. The fourth seed has continued to play at the French Open now proceedings are underway and said before the start of the tournament: “I believe in the German system. I do know what I did, I do know what I didn’t do. That’s, at the end of the day, what’s going to come out, and I have to trust in that. I do believe that I’m not going to lose this procedure. There’s absolutely no chance I am.”
Alexander Zverev and the allegations hanging over tennis as assault trial begins
French Open: Alexander Zverev vs Alex de Minaur
19:11 , Jamie Braidwood
Alex De Minaur was roared on by his young superfan as he upset Daniil Medvedev to reach his first French Open quarter-final.
The Australian had launched an appeal on social media to find the boy who had cheered every point he won throughout his rain-interrupted third-round win over Jan-Lennard Struff.
And the boy was given a front row seat on Court Suzanne Lenglen to watch his hero reach the last eight after a 4-6 6-2 6-1 6-3 victory.
“He’s managed a miracle. I might have to get him on tour week in, week out,” said the 11th seed.
“No, we found him obviously through the beautiful world of social media, we ended up finding him. We got him to the match. He came with his whole crew, with his mates and his coach. It was great to see him out there.
“Again, even on that big court, I could hear him after every single point. It’s a distinctive voice, so it’s great to see.
“He’ll be around. I think he’ll be chilling with me tomorrow in my practice day and of course he’ll be there for the very next match.”
French Open: Up next
19:04 , Jamie Braidwood
Very shortly we’ll have the final match of the day and the last of the quarter-finals as Alexander Zverev takes on Alex de Minaur. Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal means Casper Ruud, runner-up in 2022 and 2023, is waiting in the last four.
Zverev has come through two five-setters in a row, battling from two sets to one down against Holger Rune in the previous round. De Minaur, who has enjoyed a brilliant 2024, was excellent in beating fifth seed Daniil Medvedev in four sets.
Zverev has reached the French Open semi-finals in his previous two appearances in Paris, while De Minaur is the first Australian to reach the quarters since Lleyton Hewitt in 2004.
