Alcaraz holdspublished at 15:59 BST 31 May 2022
*Zverev 1-2 Alcaraz
A couple of unforced errors from Alcaraz and it's Zverev's turn to eye an early opportunity...
But that's a solid response from the Spaniard. A smart serve out wide settles it.
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
Alcaraz holdspublished at 15:59 BST 31 May 2022
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 15:57 BST 31 May 2022
#bbctennis
It's a big day at Roland Garros, and we'd love to get your thoughts and reaction as it all unfolds.
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Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 15:56 BST 31 May 2022
Zverev 1-1 Alcaraz* (* denotes server)
Naomi Broady
British player on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraZverev doesn't look like he believes he can win this match. He's already said he believes Alcaraz is the best player in the world at the moment.
Zverev holdspublished at 15:56 BST 31 May 2022
Zverev 1-1 Alcaraz* (* denotes server)
Break point Carlos Alcaraz, but Alexander Zverev rises to the challenge as he draws the error from the Spaniard.
Huge serve! Zverev gets to safety with an ace.
Postpublished at 15:54 BST 31 May 2022
*Zverev 0-1 Alcaraz (* denotes server)
David Law
Commentator on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraIf Zverev is going to play as passively as this, he's got no chance.
Postpublished at 15:54 BST 31 May 2022
*Zverev 0-1 Alcaraz (* denotes server)
Alcaraz hammers a forehand winner to draw first blood on the Zverev serve, but the German then finds a first serve to restore order.
Alcaraz then misses an opportunity to put pressure on Zverev as he nets for 40-30 - but the third seed loops a forehand long for deuce...
'When he's on he's unstoppable'published at 15:51 BST 31 May 2022
*Zverev 0-1 Alcaraz
Naomi Broady
British player on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraAlcaraz is my favourite for the title.
When he's on I think he's unstoppable. The only question mark surrounding can he win the title is experience: can his body hold up for the two long weeks that a Grand Slam is?
It's mentally draining as well as physically. And he plays with so much passion. That's the biggest comparison for me when it comes to him and Nadal. But that's tiring as well when you're like that, so I'm interested to see if he can last the full two weeks because I think he's fearless enough to go out there and win.
Postpublished at 15:50 BST 31 May 2022
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros
Image source, BBC SportGenerous rounds of applause for both players when their names are read out by the Chatrier MC.
A group in the posh seats opposite the end where Alcaraz unfurl a flag.
It’s the flag of the region of Murcia, from where the Spanish teenager hails and still lives in the town of El Palmar.
“Viva El Palmar y viva Murcia,” he recently wrote on the camera after winning the Madrid Open title against Zverev.
Postpublished at 15:50 BST 31 May 2022
*Zverev 0-1 Alcaraz (* denotes server)
The crowd are delighted by a colossal Carlos Alcaraz backhand to deny Alexander Zverev an early look at a break point, and a delicate dink over the net gets the young Spaniard up and running on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Postpublished at 15:47 BST 31 May 2022
Zverev 0-0 Alcaraz* (* denotes server)
Away we go!
Postpublished at 15:46 BST 31 May 2022
Zverev v Alcaraz
Alexander Zverev is appearing in his fourth Roland Garros quarter-final in five years.
But he is still looking for his first career top-10 win at a Grand Slam tournament, after 11 such matches, before facing world number six Carlos Alcaraz today.
Image source, Getty ImagesRoland Garros coverage on 5 Live Sports Extrapublished at 15:45 BST 31 May 2022
BBC Radio 5 Live Sports ExtraDon't touch that dial this afternoon!
Radio 5 Live Sports Extra will be live all afternoon from Paris.
You can listen in by clicking the icon at the top of this page.
The start of the handoverpublished at 15:44 BST 31 May 2022
Zverev v Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz will attempt to become the youngest Roland Garros semi-finalist since Rafael Nadal, in 2005. That year, Nadal also went on to win the title.
After losing to compatriot Alcaraz in Madrid, Nadal conceded it was the start of the "handover".
"If it's today or not, we will see it in the next months," Nadal added.
It would be quite something for that handover to take place in the French Open semi-finals...
Image source, Getty Images'A piece of spaghetti who has the tennis world salivating'published at 15:42 BST 31 May 2022
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport at Roland Garros
Image source, Getty ImagesA few years ago, Carlos Alcaraz was branded a "piece of spaghetti" by his coach Juan Carlos Ferrero because of his stringy teenage frame.
Now he's more like a packed bundle of ravioli, having beefed up coming into the 2022 season.
Particular focus was put on building the now 19-year-old's body to cope with the physical demands placed upon the world's best players, as well as improving his shot selection at the crucial moments of matches.
Earlier this month Ferrero - a former world number one and 2003 French Open champion - told me about the Spaniard who has got the tennis world salivating.
Alcaraz and Zverev meet againpublished at 15:40 BST 31 May 2022
Zverev v Alcaraz
Carlos Alcaraz has the world at his feet. At 19, the Spanish world number six has won his past 14 matches - including beating today's quarter-final opponent Alexander Zverev in the Madrid final earlier in May to win a tour-leading fourth trophy this season.
The youngest man in the Roland Garros quarters since Djokovic in 2006 is also the youngest multiple Grand Slam quarter-finalist since Andrei Medvedev, in 1993.
Zverev still leads their head-to-head 2-1, though. The 2020 US Open finalist reached the semi-finals in Paris last year and has progressed from four of his past five major quarter-finals.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 15:39 BST 31 May 2022
Zverev v Alcaraz
But first...
Postpublished at 15:38 BST 31 May 2022
Djokovic v Nadal
Yes, the latest chapter in an incredible rivalry will be written later today.
It was Novak Djokovic who claimed victory in the semi-finals in Paris last year, to take a 30-28 lead in the head-to-head.
But Nadal still dominates their record at Roland Garros, winning seven of their nine meetings.
Image source, .'The biggest challenge'published at 15:36 BST 31 May 2022
Djokovic v Nadal
Novak Djokovic says he is ready for the "biggest challenge one can have" at the French Open.
The defending champion plays 13-time champion Rafael Nadal in a much-anticipated quarter-final tonight, which continues their rivalry with a men's record 59th meeting.
Nadal, who is still finding his best level after recent fitness issues, said: "I haven't played these kind of matches for three months so it is going to be a big challenge for me."
That match starts at 19:45 BST in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, Getty ImagesSalisbury & Skupski both out of men's doublespublished at 15:34 BST 31 May 2022
Britons Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski both fell at the quarter-final stage of the men's doubles earlier today.
Top seeds Salisbury and American partner Rajeev Ram lost in a final set tie-break against Ivan Dodig and Austin Krajicek, who prevailed 3-6 7-6 (11-9) 7-6 (12-10).
Skupski and Dutch team-mate Wesley Koolhof were edged out of a semi-final spot by the Spanish/Argentine duo of Marcel Granollers and Horatio Zeballos, losing 3-6 6-3 6-4.
Image source, Getty ImagesGauff & Trevisan through in women's drawpublished at 15:32 BST 31 May 2022
Image source, Getty ImagesWe're already had our first two quarter-finals in the women's draw today.
American 18-year-old Coco Gauff, the 18th seed, has just beaten compatriot Sloane Stephens 7-5 6-2 on Court Philippe Chatrier.
That sets up a semi-final against Italy's Martina Trevisan.
Earlier, Trevisan reached her first ever Grand Slam semi-final by defeating Canada's US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez 6-2 6-7 (3-7) 6-3.
Image source, Getty Images