Summary

  • Rafael Nadal beats defending champion Novak Djokovic in marathon quarter-final

  • Spanish star wins 6-2 4-6 6-2 7-6 (7-4) after thrilling match lasting over four hours

  • 13-time French Open champion clinches victory at 1:16am local time

  • Earlier Alexander Zverev overcame Carlos Alcaraz to reach semi-finals

  • American Coco Gauff and Italian Martina Trevisan through to women's last four

  1. Break point Zverevpublished at 17:52 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    Zverev 6-4 6-4 4-4 Alcaraz*

    Ouch, that's a burn from Broady.

    But it's fair. Another unforced error - and this could be fatal.

    Break point Zverev. This could be the match right here.

  2. Postpublished at 17:51 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    Zverev 6-4 6-4 4-4 Alcaraz*

    Naomi Broady
    British player on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    Alcaraz still looks impressive out on the court, energy, physicality - so long as you don't look down the other side of the court to where his balls are landing!

  3. Postpublished at 17:51 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    Zverev 6-4 6-4 4-4 Alcaraz*

    Alcaraz can't dig out a reply at the net as Zverev takes the opening point, and a double fault from the Spaniard cranks up the pressure.

  4. Zverev holdspublished at 17:49 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    Zverev 6-4 6-4 4-4 Alcaraz*

    You have to applaud Zverev, who holds firm on serve once again. He's putting them away when it counts.

  5. Postpublished at 17:48 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    *Zverev 6-4 6-4 3-4 Alcaraz

    Carlos Alcaraz is immediately on the back foot with another unforced error, his frustration compounded by a Zverev ace.

    The double faults really are beginning to hamper Zverev now though. His latest, a sixth of the match, brings us to 30-15...

  6. 'A tough watch'published at 17:47 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    *Zverev 6-4 6-4 3-4 Alcaraz

    David Law
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    If Alcaraz can somehow squeeze out this third set, anything can happen.

    But this is quite a tough watch because there are so many unforced errors.

  7. Alcaraz holdspublished at 17:46 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    *Zverev 6-4 6-4 3-4 Alcaraz

    A lovely backhand into the corner gets Alcaraz up and running on serve. He's pushed all the way, but Zverev sends a forehand beyond the baseline and the Spaniard edges back in front in this third set.

  8. 'You know Zverev's second serve gets yippy'published at 17:44 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    Zverev 6-4 6-4 3-3 Alcaraz*

    Naomi Broady
    British player on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    I want to see Alcaraz move that court position more. On his second serve get in Zverev's face a bit, You know his second serve gets yippy.

  9. Postpublished at 17:44 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    Zverev 6-4 6-4 3-3 Alcaraz*

    A single break of serve was enough to settle the first two sets. Alexander Zverev, yet to record a win over a top-10 opponent at a Grand Slam tournament, is three games away.

  10. Zverev holdspublished at 17:43 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    Zverev 6-4 6-4 3-3 Alcaraz*

    A fourth double fault of the contest from Zverev gives Alcaraz hope, but another unforced error moves the German to game point.

    Another double! Alcaraz closes to 40-30 and the crowd spark into life.

    Again. It doesn't affect the dialled-in Zverev, who finds his first serve to level at 3-3.

  11. Postpublished at 17:39 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    *Zverev 6-4 6-4 2-3 Alcaraz

    David Law
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    The high bouncing ball doesn't seem to do much damage to Zverev - he just leans into it.

    When he gets into his stride, he can move pretty quickly.

  12. Alcaraz holdspublished at 17:38 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    *Zverev 6-4 6-4 2-3 Alcaraz

    That's the way to finish a game! Alcaraz is going on the attack more an more, and is once again primed at the net to lift a drop shot over for the hold.

  13. Postpublished at 17:37 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    Zverev 6-4 6-4 2-2 Alcaraz*

    Encouragement is beamed down from the stands, as Alcaraz clobbers successive forehand winners for 30-0. He skews a backhand wide. Steady.

  14. Zverev holdspublished at 17:35 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    Zverev 6-4 6-4 2-2 Alcaraz*

    Zverev double-faults, but instantly wipes it from his memory as he drives a backhand down the line. We stay on serve in the third...

  15. Postpublished at 17:34 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    *Zverev 6-4 6-4 1-2 Alcaraz

    Is this the game for Alcaraz? It feels like we're all patiently waiting for the teenager to ignite here.

    But still we wait, as a miss on the backhand sets Zverev away.

  16. Alcaraz holdspublished at 17:30 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    *Zverev 6-4 6-4 1-2 Alcaraz

    Good serving from Alcaraz puts the Spaniard in charge on serve. He must keep doing his job and hope an opening appears at some point.

    He's found short at the net, but Zverev fires long from mid-court.

  17. 'Zverev unleashing'published at 17:28 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    Zverev 6-4 6-4 1-1 Alcaraz*

    David Law
    Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

    This is role reversal from what we saw in the first handful of games.

    Alcaraz is far back in the court now, he is a little bit vulnerable to those sorts of angles.

    This is Zverev unleashing.

  18. Zverev holdspublished at 17:27 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    Zverev 6-4 6-4 1-1 Alcaraz*

    Unfortunately for Alcaraz, Zverev is showing few signs of easing off here. Another wide serve in the region of 130mph gives the Spaniard little hope of getting involved.

    If anything, in fact, Zverev is getting better, sliding in to catch a drop shot and angling it over for the hold.

    Alexander ZverevImage source, Getty Images
  19. Alcaraz holdspublished at 17:24 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    *Zverev 6-4 6-4 0-1 Alcaraz

    No time like the present, is there.

    It's a strong start on serve from Alcaraz, who bundles up all his frustration into an ace to hold.

  20. Postpublished at 17:22 British Summer Time 31 May 2022

    Jonathan Jurejko
    BBC Sport at Roland Garros

    Alcaraz has never won a match from two sets down. Now would be decent time to achieve that particular career first...