Top seed Simona Halep came from behind to defeat Germany's Angelique Kerber 6-7(2) 6-3 6-2 on Wednesday and reach the semi-finals of the French Open.
Halep, who was beaten in the final at Roland Garros last year, is now two wins away from her maiden Grand Slam title and takes on Spain's Garbine Muguruza next.
Muguruza thumped twice former champion Maria Sharapova to reach her fourth Grand Slam semi-final. The Spaniard was flawless in her 6-2 6-1 win and will be the firm favourite to lift the title for the second time in Paris.
Holder Rafa Nadal's run of winning 37 consecutive completed sets at Roland Garros was snapped by Diego Schwartzman as the Argentine raced to an early lead in their quarter-final.
Nadal, chasing a record-extending 11th French Open title, regrouped and led 5-3 in the second set when rain ensured that the pair would resume their match on Thursday.
In the other last-eight clash, Marin Cilic and Juan Martin del Potro were locked in a tight tiebreak battle for the first set before rain stopped play.
After losing the opening set, world No.1 @Simona_Halep came storming back to defeat Angelique Kerber and reach her third Roland-Garros semifinal.
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2018
Watch the highlights from this quarterfinal clash ?#RG18 pic.twitter.com/Qa6neqfE6l
Highlights from day 11 of the French Open tennis championships on Wednesday (times GMT):
RAIN STOPS PLAY AT ROLAND GARROS
Play was interrupted due to rain with defending champion Rafa Nadal trailing Argentine Diego Schwartzman 2-3 in the second set of their quarter-final on Court Philippe Chatrier. Schwartzman won the first set 6-4.
On Court Suzanne Lenglen, Marin Cilic and Juan Martin del Potro were level at 5-5 in the opening set of the other last-eight clash.
SCHWARTZMAN SNAPS NADAL'S RECORD BY WINNING FIRST SET
Diego Schwartzman ended favourite Rafa Nadal's run of winning 37 consecutive completed sets at Roland Garros, taking the opening set of their quarter-final match 6-4.
Have no fear, Diego is here.@dieschwartzman surprises Rafael Nadal and takes the first set 6-4,
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2018
ending his streak of consecutive sets won in Paris at 37.
Léger séisme sur le Chatrier ! Rafa Nadal vient de perdre son tout premier set de l'édition 2018 ! 6-4 Schwartzman#RG18 pic.twitter.com/fqy8tqV5Wl
SHARAPOVA COUNTS STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
Maria Sharapova, back at Roland Garros for the first time since 2015 following a doping-ban, said her run to the quarter-finals was a step in the right direction despite a tame defeat by Garbine Muguruza on Wednesday.
"On paper it's a step in the right direction. It's tough to just assess a single tournament. I have to put a lot of things in perspective for the last-four, five weeks since the clay season," Sharapova said.
"Coming into this part of the year, I was losing a few first-round matches, matches that I wanted to be winning. But to have had the victories I have had... obviously moving a step in the right direction. But today was not one of those steps."
HALEP POWERS INTO THIRD FRENCH OPEN SEMI-FINAL
Simona Halep eased past Angelique Kerber in the third set to win the match 6-7(2) 6-3 6-2 and storm into the last-four at Roland Garros for the third time in her career.
“After losing that set, when I came back it was a little bit tough, but I stayed there. I stayed focused. I never gave up. So I think that's why I won today. My head won it.”
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2018
- @Simona_Halep#RG18 pic.twitter.com/PftU2ph27P
The Romanian world number one prevailed in two hours and 14 minutes to stay on course for her maiden Grand Slam title. She takes on Spain's Garbine Muguruza next. Muguruza leads their head to head record 3-1.
MUGURUZA THROUGH TO SEMI-FINALS
Garbine Muguruza made short work of the second set to seal a comfortable 6-2 6-1 win over Maria Sharapova in just 70 minutes and advance to the semi-finals at Roland Garros.
Garbiñe Muguruza calls clay her "territory."
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2018
Following her QF rout of Maria Sharapova on Wednesday, it's not hard to see why. Recap & Highlights: https://t.co/SUNY3IsS0A #RG18 pic.twitter.com/u0F4tWWgLJ
Muguruza hardly broke sweat en route to her first victory over the five-times major winner. The Spaniard, who won the 2016 French Open, stayed on course for her third Grand Slam title.
Locked in.@GarbiMuguruza dropped just three games en route to scoring her first-ever win over Maria Sharapova and securing a spot in the #RG18 semifinals.
— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 6, 2018
Watch the highlights from this quarterfinal clash ? pic.twitter.com/NP21tYuWZ5
