Squeaky bum time and holding serve isn't as easy at it used to be. Triple break points Sharapova. The Russian barrelling towards the tape, directing an overhead into Halep's feet and the Romanian turns her head as if she were facing a Courtney Walsh bouncer without a helmet. Anyone for a tie-break?

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

Image source, AFP

"Whatever happens in the rest of the match, Halep has done enough to show the wider world what tennis watchers have known for some time now - she's the real deal. It started among the pockets of Romanian fans dotted around the stadium but now 'Simona! Simona!' seems to have caught on throughout the Chatrier stadium."

Cripes. Triple break points for Halep before I put a full stop at the end of the last entry. Steady on, Simona, give us a breather. Sharapova claws back two points, tosses the ball up for the first serve but decides to let the it bounce and the crowd, thinking they're in a pantomime, gulp in unison.

Halep has Sharapova singing to her tune and the Russian's footwork is all wrong, botching a forehand to give the Romanian the chance to serve for the set.

Ben Amadi-Emina:, external What a game of tennis. Halep is a joy to watch. She goes for every ball and her returns and anticipation are great.

Image source, Getty Images

What was that about long hauls? Another twist in the tale as Sharapova earns two break points. Halep does her best to resist, but the game ends in the cruellest of ways with the ball clipping the net cord and bouncing agonisingly beyond Halep's grasp. Back on serve and there's no knowing how this set will end.

Decibels rising on Chatrier. Sharapova screaming as if she's pulled back the shower curtain and seen Anthony Perkins on the other side. The Russian curled up in agony as she pushes a forehand into the tramlines. From 40-15 to deuce.

Incroyable! First Sharapova is in the driving seat as Halep is forced on her haunches on the baseline, but the Romanian quickly returns to her feet and turns defence into attack. She retrieves a Sharapova lob and sends the Russian scampering - the crowd oohing and aahing - and Sharapova nets a backhand. Break point Halep and she makes the most of it. We're in for the long haul.

Ros Clarke:, external It might not happen today (though I still wouldn't bet against it) but I'd put money on Halep winning Grand Slams in the future.

Image source, AFP

The spectators entertained themselves during the changeover with a series of Mexican Waves which were accompanied by one or two 'oles'. Lovely.

Halep entices Sharapova to the net and gets the better of the Russian with a forehand winner which curls around the net and back into play.

Another forehand winner from Sharapova, though, her 20th of the match, draws her level at 30-30 and, out of nothing, the Russian has a break point, with Halep going wide.

Ice cool from Halep, stepping in for a crunching forehand winner. Deuce. Break point. Deuce, Advantage. Sharapova forehand into the tramlines. A crucial hold for Halep.

Adam Doherty:, external Halep is breath of fresh air to women's tennis. Notice the lack of shrieking when she hits the ball.

Aces have been few and far between in this match, but Sharapova treats us to a crisp and cool ace down the middle for a 30-0 lead. Confident serving from the Russian as she moves 40-0 ahead, but Halep is refusing to buckle - a wonderful crosscourt winner on the run earning the admiration of the crowd for 40-30. But Sharapova comes through and returns to her seat with her nose in front.

Image source, Reuters

The Philippe Chatrier crowd rooting for Halep, perhaps they want to see a new Grand Slam champion or perhaps they just want to get their money's worth.

Halep sending Sharapova lunging from tramline to tramline and the ploy is a fine one as she races to 40-15, concluding the game with a dreamy forehand winner which kisses the line.

Halep has won eight of the last 10 points and, at 0-30, Sharapova looks like a woman under pressure. The never-say-die Russian drags herself back into contention, though, at 30-30 and, with the crowd now hushed into silence, nips ahead by sending Halep this way and that, finishing her off with muscly forehand into the corner.

Double fault - her fourth of the set and eighth of the match - and we're at deuce. Questions being asked of Sharapova. Questions being asked of Halep. Which one will hold firm? Halep nets, then her forehand drifts into the tramlines. Sharapova grimaces. She knows she's been let off the hook. Three double faults in that game and she still held.

Image source, AP

Halep, it seems, is prepared to fight until the final bell. Her nearest and dearest might have been wincing during some stages of this match, such were the ferocity of Sharapova's punches, but those knees won't be buckling yet.

Halep races 40-0 ahead and the crowd chant and cheer for the fourth seed. Sharapova nicks one point, but follows up with an overcooked forehand and we're level once more.

Barbara Schett
Former world number seven on BBC Radio 5 live

"Simona knew exactly how important that game was, but she won and now she has a chance. Maria is an unbelievable competitor, the ball always comes back one more time, but Simona is such a great counter-puncher."

Sharapova in a spot of bother as she double faults to allow her opponent to proceed to 0-30. Fighting spirit from the fourth seed as she wrong foots Sharapova with a crosscourt backhand for two break points. And from the flames the Romanian rises! Sharapova nets and this match isn't over yet.

Image source, Getty Images

Halep's intensity has dropped a little at the start of this set, with the Romanian perhaps still coming to terms with dropping a set for the first time in this tournament.

A clench of the fist from Sharaopva as she reins Halep in at 30-30 with a whipped forehand into the corner. A series of brutal blows from the baseline from Sharapova and another clean forehand winner flies by the Russian for deuce. Oof.

Halep saves break point, but Sharapova is relentless - immense power and stunning accuracy as she clips the line with a forehand for a second break point. Halep dangling from the edge but clinging on, though a double fault gifts Sharapova a third break point and the Romanian's resistance is broken.

Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros

"Halep has described her game as being all about pace and angles, and when she gets it right she has Sharapova looking uncomfortable. The margin for error is tiny though, and the Russian has slapped 18 winners when given time to line them up. She's looking very solid off both sides today, it's just whether she can cope with not being a set behind, as has usually been the case this week."

Sharapova opens with three easy points. On the next point, Halep is left scampering on the red dirt, chasing a Sharapova forehand in vain as the Russian holds to love.

Barbara Schett
Former world number seven on BBC Radio 5 live

"Very impressive from Maria after being 0-2 down, she fought back and played her best tennis at 5-4. There were too many errors from Simona."

Image source, Getty Images

Both players quench their thirst at the changeover after a fascinating nine games in the sunshine. The old pendulum has been busy in this set, swinging this way and that. Hypnotic stuff.

Sharapova despairingly looks skywards as she plonks a backhand into the net for 30-30, but she will not worry too much - a momentum changing forehand forces Halep on the defensive and the Romanian can do little but send a lob long.

The fourth seed saves a break point with a fearless forehand winner - her seventh clean hit on that side so far in this match - but aggressive returning from Sharapova earns her a second break point, and Halep's response is to swing loose and wild.