Serena beats Bacsinszky 4-6 6-3 6-0
Williams looked unwell for long periods
Safarova beats Ivanovic 7-5 7-5 in 1st semi
Safarova into first Grand Slam final
Oh Ana! Ivanovic steps forward on the attack on that break point, hammering her return too long. And she might as well have hammered a nail in her own coffin. All momentum is lost as Safarova takes us back to deuce, then claims her first match point. This will seal it....but she produces another double fault!! On we go....
I'm never going to know what goes through your mind when you're serving for a place in a Slam final - but it must be a mix of excitement and fear. The latter comes to the fore as Safarova double faults with her first serve, then slams into the net with a forehand. She fights backs to 30-30 but then clips the tape with her second serve - break point for Ivanovic....
Over to you, Lucie. Staring defeat square in the face, Ivanovic produces a gutsy hold to keep her flimsy dreams of a second Roland Garros final alive. Now Safarova serves for the match....
Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros
"Team Ana, as it's probably called, is getting very exercised in the stands as their woman struggles to get back into this match. The cheering, fist pumping, pointing and standing after winners is all very well, but it's matched by eye rolling, groaning and forehand smacking after the errors.
"Not sure Ivanovic needs to be seeing her own emotional turmoil reflected back at her every time she looks to the stands. Coach Steckley, in Safarova's corner, raises a very chilled finger after his boss smacks a forehand winner."
Image source, Reuters....a looping return from Ivanovic draws Safarova into her first smash of the match - and it's a perfectly-executed winner! Advantage Safarova. A forehand winner from the Serb saves the game, but she concedes another point and this time the Czech - who is having every facet of her game tested by Ivanovic in this gruelling game - completes the job at the second attempt. Now Safarova is one break from the final....
Safarova is two service games from the match - here's her first chance with ball in hand. The game starts well enough as a backhand volley and sloppy return from Ivanovic puts the Czech 30-0 ahead. She allows Ivanovic a point before driving a stunning, un-returnable forehand deep into the Serb's territory. That's Safarova's 15th forehand winner compared to just eight from her opponent. Hang on, back comes Ivanovic! The seventh seed targets the Safarova backhand which crumbles as Ivanovic forces deuce....
Image source, EPASpectators outside Philippe Chatrier are kicking back in some inflatable chairs watching this match on the big screens at Roland Garros - bet Ana Ivanovic wishes her afternoon was so easy. The Serb toils again as she clings tightly on to her serve, fending off Safarova's advances at 15-15 and 30-30 to hold.
It appears neither woman wants to win this game - because perhaps, as our man Piers points out below, nerves are kicking in. Some wild shots from each side offer hope to the other, before Safarova takes control in deuce to move within two games of her first French Open final.
Image source, AFP/GETTYPiers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros
"Ana Ivanovic dropped three points in her first three service games - she has dropped 23 in the following six. The Serb has been in a tailspin, with the tell-tale sign of her ball toss going walkabout, for the last half hour but she might just have come out of it with that service hold.
"And Safarova is three holds from her first Grand Slam final, so nerves could strike her too."
Bernard Akinyamoju:, external "Ivanovic about to confirm the choker status again! I hope not."
Oh dear. Court Philippe Chatrier groans, then breaks out in encouraging applause as Ana Ivanovic double faults to hand a break point to Lucie Safarova.
But that is the boost which Ivanovic needs. The Serb saves the break before a wonderful serve and volley is followed by a crunching backhand winner. Vital hold. Can that act as a catalyst for the 2008 champion?
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Former Wimbledon champion Jana Novotna: "The body language from Ana Ivanovic is really slowing down. Everything that she has tried today has not been enough - Lucie Safarova is just hitting the ball too cleanly. That was a very confident game from Safarova and I think there is a little desperation creeping in for Ivanovic."
Image source, EPASafarova has not dropped a set so far this year at Roland Garros and it will take a remarkable effort from Ana Ivanovic to take this match into a third. The Serb is not in this contest at the moment, failing to nick even a point as Safarova holds to win her eighth game in the last nine.
Safarova springs from defence to attack quicker than a Jose Mourinho football team - she goes a set and a break up! The Czech manoeuvres herself into a position of three break points, taking the second one to draw first blood in the second set. Ivanovic is sinking quickly....
Image source, EPAGutsy stuff again from Safarova. A break point for Ivanovic is wiped out by another Safarova ace, before the Serb tries to push her opponent behind the baseline and delivers another peach of a forehand to take a second break point. But more brilliant play under pressure from Safarova has Ivanovic looking to the heavens as a return ball dusts the opposite corner of the court to where she is standing. Deuce for the fourth time. Ivanovic looks annoyed as she overcooks a forehand to hand Safarova another advantage - even more so when another ace - Safarova's seventh of the match - whizzes past her eyeline. What. A. Hold.
A tense Ivanovic spins around in disgust, slapping her thigh too, as she meekly smacks a forehand return into the net for 40-30. The 2008 French Open winner forces deuce in the next point, but sees the break-lined rug pulled from under her feet by a Safarova ace. The Czech cannot convert that advantage though, slapping into the tape from a central position. On we go....
Image source, APIvanovic opens the second set as she looks to hit straight back and end that miserable run of five losing games in a row. No room for the Serb to lose an early break here.
Safarova's forehand winner levels at 30-30 but a flush forehand from Ivanovic eases any lingering tension - as does a crashing ace for the hold. Phew....
Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros
"Safarova is on target to break the top 10 for the first time next week, and could go as high as number six if she wins the title. Canadian Rob Steckley has been a driving force behind her improvement - he's the bearded Canadian sitting in her player box and doing a good impression of a surf instructor.
"The former world number 464 is a bit of a character and has worked wonders with Safarova. They clearly get on well."
Image source, @robstreckleyStreckley posted this image after Safarova beat Sabine Lisicki in the third round
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Former Wimbledon champion and two-time French Open semi-finalist Jana Novotna: "Lucie looked like she was trying too hard early on, going for too perfect a shot and since she has calmed down she has started hitting the ball more cleanly and finding the angles.
"That is why you have to focus on yourself, there will always been an opportunity to get back into a match and you have to make sure you are able to take it."
Ivanovic is melting in the Parisian sun quicker than an exposed ice lolly. Safarova is not only negating Ivanovic's previously dominant forehand now, the leftie is now controlling the play with her own forehand.
Ivanovic cannot make any incisions in the Safarova serve as the Czech holds to love to take the first set. That was *cliche alert* a real set of two halves....