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
Image source, APWell, well, well. Who saw this one coming? Not me. Seventh seed Ana Ivanovic was coasting towards the first set not too long ago, but in the time it took you to finish your late lunchtime sandwich she is now staring a deficit in the face. Safarova nabs two break points and takes the first one to move within a service hold of the opener.
All square again. The Safarova serve is under the microscope again as Ivanovic, eyes fixed on the high ball, dispatches a drive volley clinically for 30-30. But, not for the first time, Safarova eases the pressure with an ace and then completes the job when Ivanovic misses the target with a forehand.
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Former Wimbledon champion and two-time French Open semi-finalist Jana Novotna: "Lucie Safarova has always been a little in the shadow of Petra Kvitova back in the Czech Republic. It is really nice for Lucie to be able to come out and take centre stage. There will be lots of people glued to their televisions back home."
Image source, ReutersWhen the going gets tough, Safarova gets going! Some gutsy returns from the Czech forces a double break point just when she needs them. One goes begging when a heavy Safarova return flies past the baseline. But then the 13th seed - who hasn't dropped a set at Roland Garros this year - produces a worldy of a forehand return which dusts the final millimetre of the tramline.
Safarova is serving to stay in the first set and, despite coughing up a double fault at 15-0, takes the next three points with relative ease. A forehand winner is followed by a backhand winner, before Ivanovic goes long. But the Serb knows she is now serving for the opening set....
Image source, ReutersThe Ivanovic serve has not really been questioned by 13th seed Safarova - but now it is. The Czech forces deuce, after being 40-15 behind, with a stunning backhand winner. But Ivanovic steps up a gear, luring Safarova into two unforced backhand errors, for the hold. "Come on!" shouts the Serb as we see the first real burst of emotion from either woman.
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Former Wimbledon champion and two-time French Open semi-finalist Jana Novotna: "This is very smart play by Ana Ivanovic, putting top-spin on her forehand into Lucie Safarova's backhand. It is kicking up very fast and high and Safarova is struggling to control it off that wing.
"There have been quite a lot of unforced errors from both players so far. But both are continuing to go for their shots. There are a lot of mistakes, but also a lot of winners."
Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros
Image source, AP"When she emerged on the scene a decade ago, Ivanovic was noted for her heavy, flat forehand and tendency to clench her fist after every successful point. Ten years on and those trademarks are still in place, the fist-clench getting a good workout in a dreamy 10 minutes for the Serb.
"And while not wanting to divert attention to the boyfriend in the crowd, it's remarkable how Bastian Schweinsteiger is able to clap louder than anyone else in a stadium of 17,000 people."
That second break point goes begging for Ivanovic, as the pair continue to trade blows in what could be a pivotal game in this opening set. Safarova hauls herself back from the brink, teeing up two game points of her own, but a classy backhand from the Serb takes us to a third deuce.
Both players are trying to ask questions of the other's backhand - and a long rally ends when Ivanovic's crumbles first. Then Safarova blasts down a quick first serve which is too hot for Ivanovic to handle as the Czech saves a potentially crucial hold.
Image source, Getty ImagesSafarova is under pressure on her serve again. A second double fault from Safarova contributes to another Ivanovic break point. The Serb can only slam a forehand return into the tape for deuce, but is given another chance when Safarova goes long.
The Czech has found the target with 84% of her first serves - but only 63% have been won.....
Can Safarova build on that morale-boosting hold? In a word...no. Two thumping serves ping off the Roland Garros clay and behind Safarova as a pair of aces give Ivanovic a 40-0 lead following an opening forehand winner. The Czech nabs a point back before grimacing when a backhand return lands inside the tramlines to give Ivanovic the fifth game.
Image source, Getty ImagesLucie Safarova needs a comfortable hold here - and that is exactly what she gets. The left-hander wraps up the game in a matter of seconds, thanks to a couple of forehand winners and sloppy Ivanovic returns. Confidence booster....
BBC Radio 5 live sports extra
Former Wimbledon champion and two-time French Open semi-finalist Jana Novotna on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra: "Lucie Safarova has had a good first serve percentage so far through the tournament and she really has to keep that up because Ana Ivanovic will be all over the second serve.
"She does not really look into the match yet. Ivanovic is keeping her under so much pressure."
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Everyone in the Chartier crowd is donning a straw hat - à la the Man from Del Monte (ask your dads) - as the strong sun beats down on Roland Garros. Ivanovic maintains the strong start to her service game, winning four points on the trot after allowing Safarova the luxury of the first point. The Serb is looking composed and extremely confident....
Image source, APSafarova builds up a 30-0 lead, only to throw that away with an unforced backhand error and a double fault.
That gives Ivanovic hope of an early break and, although Safarova saves with a 171 km/hr ace, a great forehand winner from the Serb sticks her within another point of a 2-0 lead.
This time, she snaffles that chance as Safarova finds the net with a loose backhand. First blood to Ivanovic....
Freddie Higgs: , external"So happy for Ana Ivanovic she has played brilliantly and it's time for her to recreate '08"
Kayley Jay:, external "OK, I've shaken up my magic 8 ball, it says Safarova v Bacsinszky. Asked if it was kidding; reply 'Don't bet on it'."
Ana Ivanovic has the honour of serving first, her first effort lightly dusting the net, before the second is smacked long by the Czech. Ivanovic, decked out in a black dress, confidently sweeps a forehand winner past her opponent before teeing up three game points with a blistering ace.
A brief glimmer of hope for Safarova, who then palms a backhand return into the net. Solid opening hold by Ivanovic.
Image source, Getty ImagesReady? As Jim Carrey would say in The Mask - it's show-tiiiiiime! One last swig of French-branded water for each of these potential finalists before they step up to the clay to a generous round of applause....
Piers Newbery
BBC Sport at Roland Garros
Image source, Getty Images"Ana Ivanovic has been one of the stories of this French Open, finally breaking back into the final four at a Grand Slam for the first time since she won the title here in 2008. The Serb became world number one that day, staying at top spot for 12 weeks, and it seemed likely she would be battling for the major prizes for years to come.
"However, she had slipped back into the pack of second-week contenders until this week. Roared on by boyfriend Bastian Schweinsteiger, the German World Cup winner, and a team of large and heavily branded men in her support team, the Serb has become a force once again."
Safarova is the first to emerge into the Paris sun, waving almost shyly to the crowd building up inside Court Philippe Chatrier, before she is quickly followed by Ivanovic. The pair stare across the net at each other for the first time, knocking up before they get down to the serious business of a French Open semi-final.
"Trois minute" says the umpire. That's three minutes until we begin to me and you....