Halep into French semi as Svitolina chokes

Elina Svitolina suffered a grand slam meltdown of epic proportions to allow Simona Halep passage into the French Open semi-finals.

Elina Svitolina of Ukraine

Elina Svitolina suffered a grand slam meltdown of epic proportions in the french open. (AAP)

Former French Open runner-up Simona Halep staged a remarkable fightback and saved a match point to reach the semi-finals with a 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-0 win over Elina Svitolina.

Romanian third seed Halep trailed by a set and 5-1 against the hard-hitting fifth seed but somehow dug herself out of a hole before storming to victory to set up a semi-final against Czech second seed Karolina Pliskova.

Ukrainian Svitolina saved four set points at 5-6 in the second and then had a match point in the tiebreak which Halep saved with a brave forehand that kissed the sideline and followed that with an improvised backhand winner.

A rejuvenated Halep clinched the second set with a forehand winner that dribbled over after clipping the tape and predictably swept through the decider as Svitolina's spirit sagged, sealing victory with an ace.

"She played unbelievable tennis in the first set until the end of the second set," Halep said.

"When I sat down at 2-5 (in the second set) I just said the match is lost.

"Then I started to feel more relaxed maybe because I thought it's finished. I changed the rhythm. I put some high balls. I just tried to make her move more.

"She played well. Then I played better. So all is good."

Should she go on to claim her maiden grand slam title, Halep will also become world No.1 for the first time.

Before she gets that opportunity Halep will face Pliskova in the last four after the Czech overcame France's final hope Caroline Garcia 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.

Pliskova who had never got past the second round at Roland Garros before, mastered windy conditions and benefited from 28th seed Garcia's numerous unforced errors.

She sealed the victory in a tight contest on her first match point with a forehand winner down the line.

Pliskova has only ever beaten Halep once in their five career meetings to dat.

In the other half of the draw 30th seed Timea Bacsinszky will face Latvian teenager Jelena Ostapenko for a place in the final.


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Source: AAP



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