Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz can set up a blockbuster French Open semi-final Tuesday as Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina tackles Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus in a politically-charged tussle where the only guarantee will be the absence of a handshake at the match’s conclusion.
Djokovic is in familiar territory after making the last eight in Paris for a record 17th time – his 14th consecutive quarter-final appearance here.
Belarus is a close ally of Russia.
Svitolina, who defeated Russia’s Daria Kasatkina in the last 16, has already said she will maintain the position of all Ukraine players in refusing to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian opponents.
Sabalenka refused to carry out media commitments after her past two matches, claiming she does not “feel safe” having faced a barrage of questions over her stance on the war and her links to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Svitolina only returned to the tour in April following a year away from the sport on maternity leave, but triumphed in Strasbourg last month and is on a nine-match winning run.
“Right now, I don’t have that pressure that I used to have before,” said Svitolina. “No one expects that I’m going to come into Roland Garros and make quarter-final at the beginning of the tournament. I don’t think many people would say, ‘Yeah, she’s going to do it.’
“That’s why I feel like this really helps me. I feel almost like I’m 17 again coming on the tour fresh. I feel more free.” Karolina Muchova matched her best Grand Slam run by knocking out 2021 finalist Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 6-2 to reach the last four at Roland Garros for the first time.
The 26-year-old unseeded Czech, who also made the semi-finals of the Australian Open in 2021, will play either Sabalenka or Svitolina for a spot in Saturday’s championship match.
