On Tuesday, world number one Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic will compete in the French Open semi-finals at Roland Garros.

In the evening encounter on Court Philippe Chatrier, Alcaraz, 20, will face Greek fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Djokovic will face Russian 11th seed Karen Khachanov in his pursuit for a record 23rd men’s Grand Slam title.

Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus will face Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the women’s quarter-finals.

The winner of that match will face either Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova or Czech opponent Karolina Muchova on Philippe Chatrier at 10:00 BST.

In the men’s doubles, Britain’s Neal Skupski and Dutch teammate Wesley Koolhof face Spain’s Marcel Granollers and Argentine Horacio Zeballos for a spot in the semi-finals.

On the first day of the wheelchair events, three-time champion Alfie Hewett faces Dutchman Tom Egberink.

Gordon Reid, Gordon’s doubles partner and two-time runner-up, takes against another Dutchman, Mikael Scheffers, in the men’s competition, while Lucy Shuker takes on Dana Mathewson in the women’s.

Djokovic and Alcaraz are on a collision track.
Novak Djokovic cups his ear to the crowd as Carlos Alcaraz hits the air.
Since the draw at Roland Garros, anticipation for a potential semi-final meeting between Alcaraz and Djokovic has grown with each round.

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The Spaniard, who won his maiden major at Flushing Meadows in September, arrived in Paris as the men’s world number one after dethroning Djokovic last month.

After missing the Australian Open due to injury, which was won by Djokovic in January, Alcaraz has his toughest test yet in his quarter-final against 2021 runner-up Tsitsipas (19:15 BST).

Tsitsipas, who lost in the final of the Barcelona Open in April, praised his opponent early in the competition, calling Alcaraz “a breath of fresh air” and applauding his “positive energy.”

“Right now, he’s one of the biggest obstacles and challenges for any player to compete against,” said Tsitsipas of Alcaraz.

“It motivates us all to do better.” Rivalries like this are the most difficult to come by in our sport.”

When they walk out for Tuesday’s night session on Philippe Chatrier, they will already know whether they will face two-time winner Djokovic in the final four.

The third seed from Serbia has won all 12 sets he has played as he attempts to overtake Rafael Nadal by winning his 23rd major this week.

He will seek to deny Khachanov a third consecutive Grand Slam semi-final appearance in his record 17th French Open quarter-final, and the 36-year-old claims he is not looking beyond that match.

“In the quarter-finals, Khachanov. “I know what I want to achieve here,” Djokovic remarked. “I’m trying to stay mentally on track and not think too far ahead.”

Svitolina of Ukraine will not shake Sabalenka’s hand.
Elina Svitolina celebrates reaching the Roland Garros quarterfinals.
A match against Sabalenka will test Svitolina against a third opponent she will not shake hands with at Roland Garros, her first Grand Slam since Russia invaded her country in February 2022.

In the absence of a handshake with Russian player Daria Kasatkina in the fourth round, the duo shared a thumbs-up at the end of the match, with Svitolina thanking the 26-year-old for being “brave” enough to criticize her country’s behavior.

After extending her stay in her first major after becoming a mother in October, the Ukrainian stated “everything will be the same” when she faces Australian Open champion Sabalenka.

Svitolina has established an eight-match winning streak since returning to competition in April, won the Strasbourg title in May and dedicating her prize money to Ukrainian youngsters.

Sabalenka, however, chose not to attend an open news conference after defeating Sloane Stephens, stating that she did not “feel safe” during her post-match obligations last Wednesday.

The Belarusian is through to the final eight at Roland Garros for the first time, aiming for successive Slam victories after winning the tournament’s opening women’s night session match on Sunday.

“Svitolina is playing really great tennis here in Paris, and she’s moving well,” Sabalenka added. “Another player [that’s] going to run a lot and put a lot of balls back, and I just have to be patient and wait for that perfect shot to finish the point.”

In the last four, either 2021 runner-up Pavlyuchenkova or Muchova, who has advanced to her maiden major quarter-final, will be waiting.

Russian Pavlyuchenkova, who lost to Barbora Krejcikova in the Roland Garros final two years ago, has tumbled out of the world’s top 300 following a five-month layoff due to a knee injury.

Muchova, a 2021 Australian Open semi-finalist and two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist, has advanced through the third round for the first time on the Paris clay.