Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova reached her first Grand Slam semi-final at the 52nd attempt on Tuesday with a three-set win over doubles partner Elena Rybakina at the French Open.
Pavlyuchenkova, the world number 32, won 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 9-7 and will face 85th-ranked Tamara Zidansek of Slovenia for a place in the final.
“There are so many emotions to reach a Grand Slam semi-final for the first time,” said 29-year-old Pavlyunchenkova who had fallen at the quarter-final stage at the majors on six previous occasions since her 2007 debut.
“It’s tough to play against your friend.”
She added: “I always had the tennis. Mentally I’m probably more solid now. Just trying to play smarter tennis. I’m working harder.”
Rybakina, who had knocked out Serena Williams in the previous round, raced into a 4-1 lead in the opener against a player who had also made the quarter-finals in Paris in 2011.
Pavlyuchenkova broke back in the seventh game before the 6ft (1.84m) Russian-born Kazakh raced confidently through the tiebreak.
The Russian levelled the tie courtesy of breaks in the sixth and eighth games of the second set.
In a tense decider, there were four breaks in the first six games before Rybakina cracked in the 16th game, going down tamely on her sixth double fault.
Earlier, Zidansek became the first Slovenian woman to reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam when she beat Spain’s Paula Badosa.
Zidansek advanced 7-5, 4-6, 8-6 and will play Kazakh 21st seed Elena Rybakina or 31st-seeded Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia for a place in Saturday’s final.
“I’m really, really happy to be in the semi-finals,” said Zidansek, who had never gone beyond the second round of a major before this year’s Roland Garros.
Zidansek recovered from 3-0 and a double break down in the first set and then saved three break points at 6-6 in the decider before taking her second match point against the in-form Badosa, the 33rd seed who has won the most clay court matches (17) on the WTA tour this season.
“I knew before the match it was going to be a tough battle,” added Zidansek, 23.
“In the third set I managed to get into my groove and I started feeling better and better, and I was fighting really well.”
Results
Quarter-finals
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS x31) bt Elena Rybakina (KAZ x21) 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 9-7
Tamara Zidansek (SLO) bt Paula Badosa (ESP x33) 7-5, 4-6, 8-6
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!