French Open LIVE: John McEnroe puts star on the spot as semi-finalist calls out rivals | Tennis | Sport

The French Open continues, with remaining singles stars looking to book their places in the semi-finals. On the women’s side, we’re guaranteed to have a new Roland Garros champion, and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka is the heavy favourite to lift the trophy for the first time here. She faces Diana Shnaider in the quarter-finals. Polish qualifier, Maja Chwalinska, who is having the run of her life, takes on 22nd seed Anna Kalinskaya.

Ukrainian 15th seed Marta Kostyuk, who is already safely into a maiden Grand Slam semi-final, has already called out some of her Russian rivals who said they didn’t want to discuss the war. Shnaider came under fire for previously competing in a Gazprom-backed exhibition tournament, but said she didn’t want to comment and was here to focus on her tennis.

Kostyuk, however, says her Russian counterparts “know what they are talking about” and “know what is going on”, and added: “I don’t know how you can sleep at night peacefully when you know that this is going on, and you have nothing to say about it.”

The men’s draw is even more open, as a new Grand Slam winner will be crowned this weekend. Jannik Sinner might have suffered a shock second-round defeat in the searing heat last week, but there are three Italians left in the top half of the draw as Matteo Arnaldi faces Matteo Berrettini, while Flavio Cobolli meets Canadian fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime.

In the bottom half of the draw, No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev has already set-up a semi-final clash with 20-year-old Jakub Mensik. And John McEnroe believes it’s now or never for three-time Grand Slam runner-up Zverev to win an elusive Major.

Stay up to date with all the goings-on at the French Open with Express Sport’s LIVE updates below…