French Open 2021, women's semi-finals LIVE: Sakkari vs Krejcikova underway, Pavlyuchenkova into final

Barbora Krejcikova* 1-1 Maria Sakkari (*denotes next server)

This is a great start from Sakkari, can she build on this early break? Her first serve is an absolute belter, and Krejcikova's desperate return is miles wide. Mistake from Sakkari, she hits a backhand long. 15-15. The first long rally of the match ends with a beautiful dropshot from Sakkari, who has really started this contest in some style. Another backhand missed by Sakkari though, 30-30. Oh, another mistake, this time it's a forehand that's fired into the net. Krejcikova already has a chance to break back. She's done it! Sakkari completely miscued what should have been an overhead smash, and it's back on serve.

Barbora Krejcikova 0-1 Maria Sakkari* (*denotes next server)

And away we go. Krejcikova will get us underway with the serve. Sakkari wins the first point of the match, after her Czech opponent hits long. Sakkari then makes a mistake of her own, sending a relatively straightforward backhand into the net. Krejcikova replies with another error, hitting long again. Oh my, excellent power-hitting from Sakkari, she forces a mistake out of Krejcikova and now she has two break points. Krejcikova hits long, Sakkari breaks in the very first game!

Get to know your semi-finalist: Barbora Krejcikova

Krejcikova, the 2018 French Open doubles champion, hopes to shed the tag of a doubles specialist by winning in singles too.

Mentored by the late Jana Novotna, the 33rd-ranked Krejcikova had never won a Grand Slam singles match before last year's Australian Open.

"I never really wanted to be a doubles specialist. Everybody, they just put a label on me like, 'Yeah, you play doubles, you are a doubles specialist,'" said Krejcikova, also into the last four in doubles with partner Katerina Siniakova.

She has defeated fifth seed Elina Svitolina and 2018 runner-up Sloane Stephens, overcoming crippling anxiety ahead of her match with the American that led to the Czech locking herself in the physiotherapist's office.

Alright then, before the second match of the evening begins, let's get to know your semi-finalist: Maria Sakkari

For a nation where football and basketball typically rule, Greece will have two players in the semi-finals after Stefanos Tsitsipas made it to the men's last four.

After an early exit in Rome, she got sick of tennis and made a quick island getaway. It helped restore her passion for the sport. Sakkari, who beat 2020 runner-up Sofia Kenin before shocking reigning champion Iga Swiatek.

Sakkari, whose mother Angeliki reached the third round at the French Open in 1985 and 1987, could break into the top 10 if she lifts the Coupe Suzanne Lenglen this weekend.

Set 2: By the numbers!

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova wins the match 7-5, 6-3!

That backhand has really let Zidansek down today. She misses another one, and Pavlyuchenkova wins the first point. Pavlyuchenkova then makes it 30-0 with a thunderous cross-court backhand winner. Just two points away from a win, she makes a terrible mistake, and gives Zidansek a little glimmer of hope. 30-15. Oh, excellent serve! Very, very fast, and Zidansek could do nothing but watch her return sail long. Two match points for Pavlyuchenkova. SHE IS THROUGH TO THE FINAL! HER FIRST-EVER GRAND SLAM FINAL! What a win from the Russian! Zidansek has had a great tournament, after failing to get past the first round on all her previous showings in a Grand Slam, but today, she just wasn't good enough.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova* 7-5, 5-3 Tamara Zidansek (*denotes next server)

Point apiece for either player. This game is massive. Pavlyuchenkova misses a forehand. She was in such a promising position just minutes ago. If she can break again, she could still wrap this up in two sets. Big forehand winner from her, and then Zidansek misses a shot to give her opponent one precious break point. Pavlyuchenkova does it! She's broken! Zidansek hit a forehand just wide of the line. The Russian will now serve for the match.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 4-3 Tamara Zidansek* (*denotes next server)

Mistake from Pavlyuchenkova on the first point, it's 0-15. Could she be succumbing to the pressure? Oh no, a double fault. 0-30. Zidansek smells blood, but Pavlyuchenkova is quick to regain her composure and she makes it 15-30 with a forehand winner. An excellent, high-quality rally then, and it's Zidansek's turn to hit a forehand winner. The Slovenian has two break points. A third point in a row that is settled with a forehand winner, this time it's Pavlyuchenkova again. Just the one break point for Zidansek. It's enough though, yet another double fault from the Russian! Back on serve!

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova* 7-5, 4-2 Tamara Zidansek (*denotes next server)

This really is a crucial game for Tamara Zidansek. If she's broken here, there's probably no way back into the contest for her. She starts by taking the first point after Pavlyuchenkova hits a return into the net. Oof, excellent dropshot from Zidansek! She's not landed too many today, but that one was perfect! Pavlyuchenkova tries a dropshot of her own, but there's too much bounce on it, and Zidansek sends it out for a forehand winner. Zidansek then wraps up the hold with a backhand winner. Quick game, that was over in minutes. 

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-5, 4-1 Tamara Zidansek* (*denotes next server)

Zidansek looks really tired, and she's lost a bit of pace. Pavlyuchenkova, on the other hand, looks the most composed she has all match. She's making less errors than she did in the first set. She wins the first couple of points with two blistering forehands, both of those were hit with real venom. Oh my, she almost wrapped up the game with a backhand winner, but it was just an inch too long. No worries though, she seals it with a forehand winner on the next point, and she's only a couple of games away from her first Grand Slam final!