Safina produces stunning comeback

The 22-year-old Safina found herself a set and 5-2 down at one stage but mounted a typically gutsy fightback to turn the match on its head and claim a hugely entertaining 4-6 7-6 (7/5) 6-0 win.

Three-set triumphs are becoming something of a party piece for the 13th-seeded Russian, who was also a set and 5-2 down against top seed Maria Sharapova in the previous round before powering into the last eight.

Safina, the sister of two-time grand slam winner Marat Safin, came into the French Open on the back of her best career win at the German Open last month and has had to draw on every ounce of self-belief that title gave her to reach the semi-finals.

After a nervy second-set tie break, the deciding set was a cruise for Safina, who broke three times to whitewash her opponent and tee up an all-Russian semi-final against Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Kuznetsova progressed to the semis after a 7-5 6-2 win over unseeded Estonian Kaia Kanepi. The big-serving Kanepi gained the early advantage in the match on Suzanne Lenglen Court when she broke the number four seed to surge 4-2 ahead.

The 22-year-old then was just a point from going 5-2 up before Kuznetsova - the only grand slam winner left in the women's draw - fought back to level the set at 5-5.

The Russian claimed a crucial break in the 11th game as Kanepi netted trying to save her serve, while Kuznetsova held it together in the next game, serving to love to take the opener.

The second set was a more one-sided affair as Kanepi's inexperience at this level began to show and the errors began to become more frequent.

Kuznetsova claimed the breaks in the second set to surge 5-2 ahead, and when match point arrived the 2004 US Open champion showed her class by putting the match to bed with a glorious forehand winner down the line.