Experienced Iga Swiatek will face a long-odds outsider in a Thursday French Open semi-final after making her way back to the final four 6-4, 6-2 over Coco Gauff in a replay of last summer’s final.
A Wednesday quarter-final win in 88 minutes sends the holder and two-time Roland Garros champion up against Brazil’s surprise packet Beatriz Haddad Maio, a 3-6, 7-6 (5), 6-1 winner over Ons Jabeur.
Swiatek stretched her long-time domination of Florida’s Gauff, with the American now 0-7 in the series without ever having won a set.
Gauff stands 0-7 in her last matches against Top 10 opponents.
Swiatek needs to keep on progressing to hold onto her top WTA ranking, which is under threat from fellow semi-finalist Aryna Sabalenka.
The Polish top seed has won her last dozen matches here and stands 26-2 at the venue.
“It was not an easy win,the first set was tight,” Swiatek said. “I’m happy Ii was able to work through it.
“Quarter-finals can sometimes be the toughest matches, I’m just happy to be in another semi-final.
Photo Roger Parker International Sports Fotos Ltd
Swiatek has rolled through all of her wins so far, spending a combined total of five and a half hours on court to make it into the semis.
South American Haddad Maia is the first from her country to reach a Paris semi-final in the post-1968 Open era.
“This was one of the biggest and special wins for me,” the Brazilian said. .”Jabeur is a player I respect a lot.
“I was very proud, and I think my face showed that…hard working, it works sometimes.”
She added: “I’m feeling happy, for sure. – the last time we played I lost 6-3, 6-0.
“It’s not easy stepping on Chatrier for the first time, I’ve never played there before.
“I was trying to be aggressive. I’m happy I could keep trying to improve my tennis, keep trying to step in, to go forward.
“I’m happy with my mentality today because I had to be very patient and to wait for the opportunity.”
Tunisia’s Jabeur reached Grand Slam finals last season at WImbledon and the US Open, but is only just coming back from a spring injury.
The North African said she may have come to the court less than perfectly prepared.
“I didn’t have much time to prepare for the clay season; it’s more physical than any other surface,” she said.
“I rushed my way back on Tour, to be ready for the French Open. Maybe I didn’t have enough time to prepare, but I did my maximum.
“I did what I could do in a short time period.”
Haddad Maia was coming off a previous match which lasted for nearly four hours, but Jabeur said that factor probably did not matter.
“She’s probably played longer than me, but she’s a beast, and I wish her all the best. I’m very happy for her and for Brazil, and hopefully she can do much more for her country.”
Jabeur said she surprised herself with her Paris progress.
“I honestly wasn’t expecting to be in the quarter-finals – especially in my first tournament after being injured (calf).
“I was trying to push myself until the end, but I’m pretty satisfied with the results.”
