Denmark's Holger Rune plays a forehand return to Norway's Casper Ruud during their men's singles quarter-final at the French Open in Paris, France, June 7, 2023. /CFP
Norway's fourth seed Casper Ruud battled past 20-year-old Holger Rune of Denmark 6-1 6-2 3-6 6-3 on Wednesday for the second consecutive year to reach the French Open semi-finals.
The pair had met at the same stage last year with Ruud emerging victorious in four sets before falling in the final to 14-time champion Rafael Nadal.
Germany's Alexander Zverev plays a forehand return to Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry during their men's singles quarter-final at the French Open in Paris, France, June 7, 2023. /CFP
Sixth-seed Rune, who had beaten Ruud at the Italian Open last month, littered the court with 26 unforced errors in the first two sets.
Ruud will play Alexander Zverev on Friday, after the German battled his way into a third consecutive French Open semi-final with a 6-4 3-6 6-3 6-4 victory over Argentine Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Zverev exited Roland Garros in agony last year after tearing ankle ligaments in his semi-final against Nadal. Zverev played his last three matches in the night session, said he found the conditions much more favorable during the day.
"The ball is a lot faster and bounces higher. I practice during the day so the adjustment is more for the night session," Zverev said.
"All in all it does not matter. I'm in the semis of Roland Garros and there is nothing else to talk about."
Another blockbuster semi-final will be staged between Spanish world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz against Serbian great Novak Djokovic.
Poland's Iga Swiatek celebrates after winning against Coco Gauff of the U.S. during their women's singles quarter-final at the French Open in Paris, June 7, 2023. /CFP
On the women's court, U.S. teenage star Coco Gauff lost for the seventh time in seven meetings to Iga Swiatek after slumping to a French Open quarter-final defeat on Wednesday.
World No.1 and defending champion Swiatek eased to a 6-4, 6-2 win, taking her record at the tournament to 26 wins and just two losses.
Gauff also lost the 2022 final at Roland Garros to the Pole.
"Obviously, you lose to someone seven times, you feel crappy," said Gauff, the world No.6.
"It's not fun at all, but also, every time I play her, I'm not thinking about the previous record. I treat it as a new opportunity every single time."
Hsieh Su-wei (L) and Wang Xinyu celebrate a point during the women's doubles quarter-final at the French Open, June 7, 2023. /CFP
In the women's doubles event, China's Wang Xinyu partnered with Hsieh Su-wei from Chinese Taipei reached the semi-finals after defeating Russian pair Veronika Kudermetova/Liudmila Samsonova 6-3, 6-2, and will fight against sixth seeded Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez for a berth in the final.
(With input from agencies)