Alexander Zverev cooled the jets of a teenaged tearaway on Tuesday, schooling Spaniard Rafael Jodar 7-6 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to power to his fifth career semi-final at the French Open.   

The world No. 3 German finished runner-up in Paris two years ago and is still seeking his first trophy at one of the majors.

Zverev has been a consistent presence at the business end of the event here, figuring iin five of the past six semis.

But the achievement doesn’t amount to much for the seed, who has his eye on the big prize.

“I want to keep going. I don’t really care so much about a semi-final,” he said. “I want to win all the matches in front of me.

“Today was a tough test against a good player – that’s it for now.”

The 29-year-old who becomes the ninth man to play five Paris semi-finals, got away slowly as the 19-year-old Jodar showed his intentions with an early break..

But the seed began turning the tables on his young opponent while trailing 5-2 in the opening set after dropping serve in the eight-minute opening game.

Jodar’s unravelling began as he served for the first set leading 5-4 but was unable to close it out.

From then on, Zverev was in control.

The German won the opener in a tiebreaker and dominated the second to claim that chapter also. 

In the third, he broke the fading youngster in the first and last games of the set 

before closing out the win with a running forehand down the line on match point.

“He had perfect rhythm in the first set and I didn’t,” the winner said. “I was playing too short and too defensive.

“The ball was also not bouncing as high as it did in (last week’s) heat, I had to flatten out my shots.

“He outplayed me at the beginning of the first, but I managed to come back.

he seemed a bit nervous when he served for (the set).

“I took my chances, it was a good match for me.”

Main photo:- Alexander Zverev in control at Roland Garros – by ATPTour.com

Marta Kostyuk fought back tears in a wave of emotion after becoming the first Ukrainian to reach a Grand Slam semi-final with her 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 Tuesday win over compatriot and friend Elina Svitolina.

The 15th seed who has won her last 17 clay matches this season dedicated the win to the suffering of her fellow citizens who endured another night of Russian attacks in Kyiv and elsewhere.

“This was an historic match I played today with Elina,” the winner said. “It was another difficult night in Ukraine, so many people died.

“I give this match (win) to the Ukrainian people and their resilience.”

The seventh-seeded Svitolina was playing a Roland Garros quarter-final for the sixth time.

After splitting sets with her countrywoman, she was unable to break free in the deciding third, where the first five games went against serve.

Kostyuk instead made her move, holding for 4-2 and breaking for a 5-2 margin. She fired an ace in the next game to set up three match points and secured the win with an untouchable serve winner out wide in just under two hours.

“I’m very happy I found a way after the first two sets, here I had not been aggressive enough” the winner said. “I found my rhythm.

“But I kept asking myself how I wanted to play if I wanted to win the tournament.  This was the answer and it worked.

“But the trophy is still far away, I would have two more matches. But I’m excited for Thursday, (semi-final).” 

Kostyuk will now play Russian-born Mirra Andreeva, who boosted her chances of cracking the  ranking top 5 as she ended the Roland Garros career of Sorana Cirstea 6-0, 6-3.

Eighth seed Andreeva, aged 20, moved into her second semi-final here after first reaching the final four in 2024. She could break into the elite by reaching the Saturday final.

The French-based player overwhelmed a 36-year-old opponent who is sticking to the decision that this will be her last Tour season.

Andreeva, 19, swept the opening set in 22 minutes and emerged from a second-set run of three consecutive breaks of serve to tighten her grip on victory.

She finished in a concluding break of Cirstea with a forehand winner on match point to advance in 57 minutes over her regular 2026 practice partner.

“I knew the match would not be easy, and that I would have to put in 200 per cent of intensity and focus,” Andreeva said.

“She played aggressive and put the pressure on me. I’m happy I was able to do play aggressive throughout the whole match.

“Today my game felt on point.”

Andreeva’s victory was her 20th on clay this season from 23 matches played on the surface, the most on the WTA.

Main photo:- Marta Kostyuk celebrates beating compatriot – WTATennis.com

Aryna Sabalenka took full advantage of the first women’s night match in three years at the French Open as she dealt out a 7-5, 6-3 win over Naomi Osaka to reach the quarter-finals.

The world No. 1 and 2025 runner-up won the battle of multiple Grand Slam champions as women were finally tapped for the controversial Roland Garros night match for the first time since 2023.

With the men’s field down to a skeleton crew with Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic out and injured Carlos Alcaraz missing, Paris officials may have had little choice but to trot out women after years of criticism over scheduling choices.

.Sabalenka snuck out the opening set on an Osaka double-fault. She repeated in the second set with a break for 4-3.

Two games later it was all over after Osaka double-faulted to yield a match point and Sabalenka answered with a stinging service return for a match-winner after 89 minutes.

“She’s such a great player, we always have tough battles,” Sabalenka said. “I’m happy with the way I served and put the pressure back on her.

“I’m happy with the win, it was a tough one.”

The top seed said that taking the night slot for the first time was a pleasure, calling the experience “amazing.”

“This was not the best match of my life but I feel I’m getting better and better with each match. I’m pleased with the performance today.