2023 Roland Garros French Open Day 13 Preview/Schedule - ATP Semi-Final Day including highly anticipated Alcaraz-Djokovic and Ruud-Zverev

The Schedule has been confirmed for a bumper day of action on Friday at the 2023 French Open with the clash of the year set to take place between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic.

As ever, TennisUpToDate preview the action with Head to Heads between the players and the tale of the tape as well as for the second semi-final between Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev.

The Women's Doubles semi-finals will also be played with Coco Gauff/Jessica Pegula v Taylor Townsend/Leylah Fernandez headlining proceedings.

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Matches to watch

Novak Djokovic v Carlos Alcaraz

The big crunch clash will start it all as Novak Djokovic faces Carlos Alcaraz in only the second meeting between two of the current juggernauts in Men's Tennis.

With the absence of Rafael Nadal in Paris, Djokovic and Alcaraz have assumed their spots as the favourites and one will go through to be the favourite in the final.

There is also the intrigue of the World No.1 spot which again could change hands as a result of this tie. With Djokovic in particular coming towards the twilight of his career too, it could be one of only a few more times this match is seen.

In terms of head to head record, it is only their second meeting with their first coming back in Madrid last year with Alcaraz coming from a set down to win it 6-7, 7-5, 7-6 in the semi-finals before going onto win the title.

Could it be the same again or will Djokovic even the score and pull closer to a record breaking Grand Slam haul?

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Alexander Zverev v Casper Ruud

The other semi-final sees last year's finalist, Casper Ruud looking to make it back-to-back in another final he would be the underdog in.

Ruud has had a point to prove during this tournament after a poor start to the season at times given his consistency since emerging on the ATP Tour and defending his final from 12 months ago, many didn't expect him to go all the way again.

But the Norwegian has proven many wrong and last saw off Holger Rune with relative ease to make this point.

In his way though stands a player who believes he would've gone all the way had he not suffered his horrific injury against Rafael Nadal last year in Alexander Zverev.

Similarly bouncing back after being doubted, Zverev's comeback to the tour has been far from easy but he is finding his stride again and has made it three semi-finals in a row in Paris.

But can he finally snap the run of losing every year in the semi-finals and finally make a maiden Grand Slam final.

They have a 2-1 H2H in favour of Zverev but all have been on outdoor or indoor hard between 202`1-2022 so they will duel on a surface both play some of their best tennis on during Friday's bumper session.

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Women's Doubles Semi-Finals including Gauff/Pegula v Townsend/Fernandez

Over on Court Simonne Mathieu, it is the Women's Doubles semi-finals as it sees two of the top teams currently in the first tie.

As Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula face off against Taylor Townsend and Leylah Fernandez. While in the other semi-final, sees Nicole Melichar-Martinez and Ellen Perez face Su-Wei Hsieh and Xinyu Wang.

Hsieh being a great story having only returned to the tour recently after over a year away and is on the cusp of a Grand Slam doubles final again.

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2023 Roland Garros French Open Day 13 Schedule

José Morgado

@josemorgado

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As expected Alcaraz-Djokovic is the first semifinal tomorrow. Bring it 😍

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