Swiss thirtieth seed Timea Bacsinszky reached the French Open semi-finals for the second time on Tuesday with a rain-hit 6-4, 6-4 win over home hope Kristina Mladenovic.
“I feel extremely privileged to be in a second semi-final at Roland Garros,” said Bacsinszky, who also made the last four in 2015. Back then, her run to the last four two years ago was ended by Serena Williams in three sets.
Tuesday’s match was one hour 49 minutes in duration but took the best part of six hours to complete after two rain delays – one lasting three hours.
“It was extremely difficult today. There was fine weather, then rain, wind and the clay was blowing in our eyes. I had to stay concentrated. I am sorry for the crowd but happy for me.”
A Latvian end to the Danish dream
Teenager Jelena Ostapenko became the first Latvian woman to reach a Grand Slam semi-final after defeating Caroline Wozniacki 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 at the French Open on Tuesday.
“I’m really happy I still can’t believe it,” said Ostapenko after going one step further than compatriot Anastasija Sevastova at last year’s US Open.
“Of course, when I came here I didn’t expect I’m going to be in the semis, but I was playing better and better every match. So I think if I keep it up, I think anything can happen.”
Ostapenko had never been beyond the third round at a major before arriving in Paris.
She is the first teenager to make the last four at Roland Garros since Ana Ivanovic in 2007.
And the world No 47 believes her use of ballroom dancing as part of her training regime is reaping rewards.
“Of course I think it helped me. And I’m still doing it now just for myself, the dancing. My favourite one is Samba,” said Ostapenko.
The unseeded 19-year-old will face Bacsinszky for a place in Saturday’s final, in the top-half of the women’s singles draw.
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