Reigning French Open champion Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the semifinals at Roland Garros on Tuesday with a dominant straight-sets victory over American Tommy Paul in the night session on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Alcaraz, the third seed, needed just one hour and 34 minutes to dispatch the No. 12 seed Paul 6-0, 6-1, 6-4. The Spaniard will next face Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, the No. 8 seed, who earlier defeated American Frances Tiafoe in four sets.

It will mark the third meeting between Alcaraz and Musetti on clay this season. Alcaraz won both previous encounters, including the final in Monte Carlo and the semifinals in Rome, where he went on to win the title.

The 22-year-old showed no signs of the inconsistency that marked his earlier rounds in Paris, producing a commanding display under the lights and drawing support from the home crowd.

"It was, I could close my eyes and everything went in, my feeling today was amazing. Today was one of those matches where everything went in, I'm just pleased with everything," said Alcaraz.

He struck 40 winners to just 22 unforced errors, overpowering Paul from the outset. The American, 28, did not win a game until the third set's second half.

"This kind of match is never easy," Alcaraz said. "I've played Tommy many times and he's beat me twice."

Despite Paul’s attempts to mount a comeback in the third set, Alcaraz broke in the ninth game before serving out the match to love.

"I know you wanted to watch more tennis," Alcaraz told the centre court crowd. "I have to say sorry for that. But I had to do my work."

The loss marks Paul’s fourth straight defeat to Alcaraz, including their clash at the same venue during last year’s Olympic Games quarterfinals.