Summary

  • Third seed Halep beats second seed Pliskova 6-4 3-6 6-3

  • Ostapenko beat Bacsinszky 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-3 in first semi-final

  • Ostapenko becomes first unseeded player to reach French Open final since 1983

  • Listen to online-only radio commentary of second semi-final

Live Reporting

Jonathan Jurejko

  1. Au revoir!

    OstapenkoGetty Images
    HalepEPA

    Two winning waves, two beaming smiles, and two French Open finalists.

    Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko was the first, becoming the first unseeded woman to reach the Roland Garros final since 1983 by beating Swiss 30th seed Timea Bacsinszky.

    And then third seed Simona Halep - much more fancied to still be there on Saturday - saw off the women ranked directly above her, Karolina Pliskova, to join Ostapenko.

    So make sure you join us on Saturday!

    Oh, and I nearly forgot... come back tomorrow. Something about four blokes and two more matches?

  2. Halep on track for top spot

    Piers Newbery
    BBC Sport at Roland Garros

    The Romanians on Chatrier erupt as one when the ball floats long to give Halep victory. She spent a good part of the last two sets on the defensive, scrambling brilliantly to get Pliskova's flat, heavy groundstrokes back. Halep has carried the burden of being favourite all tournament, and there have been some sticky moments, but she remains on track to convert her talent into a major trophy and the number one ranking.

  3. And if Halep needed another reason to win Saturday's final - other than the glory of finally becoming a Slam champion - then she has one...

  4. Halep through to French Open final

    Halep 6-4 3-6 6-3 Pliskova

    Simona Halep on reaching her second French Open final: "It is an amazing feeling, I'm so happy. I came through a tough match yesterday, but I just care about today. Karolina is a good player and made it tough.

    "It is nice to be in the final again, I hope I can play better and win it. I'm playing a young player, it is a big challenge and it will be great to play here on Chatrier again."

    French OpenGetty Images

  5. Halep through to French Open final

    Halep 6-4 3-6 6-3 Pliskova

    What is also remarkable about Halep's performance today, controlling the first set before digging deep when it mattered in the decider, is that she had to come through a grueller of a semi-final.

    She looked to be heading out yesterday after going a set and 5-1 down against Elina Svitolina.

    But she battled back, recharged the batteries and powered through again today. Oh, and she had an ankle injury only a couple of weeks ago...

    HalepReuters

  6. Halep through to French Open final

    Halep 6-4 3-6 6-3 Pliskova

    Halep lost in three sets to Maria Sharapova in her last final appearance in Paris. This time she won't be facing a seasoned Slam winner.

    Standing in the way is unseeded Latvian Jelena Ostapenko, who as I'm sure you remember, beat Timea Bacsinszky a couple of hours or so ago.

    Whatever happens (and that could be anything) we do know that a new Grand Slam winner will be crowned on Saturday.

    HalepGetty Images
  7. game, set and match

    Game, set and match - Halep

    Halep 6-4 3-6 6-3 Pliskova

    Simona Halep has done it!

    The Romanian third seed reaches her second Roland Garros final with a big serve down the middle that Pliskova can only bat back over the baseline.

    Simona HalepGetty Images

  8. Halep breaks

    *Halep 6-4 3-6 5-3 Pliskova

    Karolina Pliskova is goosed. All the effort in that previous game takes it toll.

    The Czech second seed makes a string of sloppy unforced errors - taking her tally to 44 for the match - to gift the game to Halep.

    The 2014 finalist is serving for the match...

  9. Chanda Rubin
    American former world number six on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    Pliskova did not give up in that point. She kept fighting and we are back on serve.

    PliskovaGetty Images

  10. Pliskova breaks back

    Halep 6-4 3-6 4-3 Pliskova*

    Anyone got any plans tonight? Delay them. This one could go on for a while longer yet. I need to get to the polling booth before 10pm...

    Pliskova continues to pile on the pressure, hammering down meaty forehands which Halep can't cope with.

    Another winner gives her a double break point, and she takes it.

    Back on serve...

  11. *Halep 6-4 3-6 4-2 Pliskova

    An unforced error followed by two forehand winners see Pliskova home. That tells you everything about how the Czech's energy levels are. She's trying to blitz everything in an attempt to keep the points short.

    PliskovaReuters

  12. Halep 6-4 3-6 4-1 Pliskova*

    Relentless. The Romanian road-runner earns a point for a double break... this goes and the match as good as goes...

    Pliskova smashes an ace down the middle. That's how you save a break point.

    A backhand winner from the Czech, who has hit the ball beautifully today, puts within touching distance of the hold.

    But then she buckles with a double fault. On we go...

  13. Chanda Rubin
    American former world number six on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    Halep hits so beautifully cross court. She has that ball on a string.

    HalepGetty Images

  14. Halep 6-4 3-6 4-1 Pliskova*

    Has Pliskova got anything left in the tank then? Or is she chugging to a halt?

    PliskovaGetty Images

  15. Halep 6-4 3-6 4-1 Pliskova*

    Career longevity is not something you get as a string working for Karolina Pliskova. The hard-hitting Czech goes through racquets quicker than i go through cups of tea. And, believe me, that is plenty.

    Another quick change from the second seed after she batters a forehand winner into submission, racking two break points...

    But an unforced error sees one fall by the wayside, and that gives Halep the foothold she needs.

    The Romanian wipes out the second, goes ahead with a backhand winner and then clinches the hold. Big.

    French OpenReuters

  16. *Halep 6-4 3-6 3-1 Pliskova

    Crucial.

    Simona Halep maintains her momentum and fends off a Pliskova fightback from 30-0 to 30-30. Pliskova then puts a return into a net and it's break point.

    Halep needs to hold her nerve... and does! A brilliant sweeping forehand from the back of the court is over Pliskova and the Romanian has the break.

    Simona HalepGetty Images

  17. Halep 6-4 3-6 2-1 Pliskova*

    A confident game by Halep.

    She's relentlessly chasing down shots and is giving Pliskova as good as she can get.

    Halep breezes through the third game and leads 2-1 in the decisive set.

    Simona HalepGetty Images

  18. *Halep 6-4 3-6 1-1 Pliskova

    Is the wind starting to increase on Chatrier? Karolina Pliskova aborts her serve a couple of times during this game.

    Halep threatens to nab her serve as they go to deuce, but the Czech recovers with an ace to keep her at arm's length.

    Karolina PliskovaGetty Images

  19. Halep 6-4 3-6 1-0 Pliskova*

    Chanda Rubin
    American former world number six on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    There is so little between these players so far. I think I would have to favour Halep if only slight in this match, simply because of her confidence and court movement, but it is only slightly. A very difficult pick to make.

  20. Halep 6-4 3-6 1-0 Pliskova*

    Simona Halep gets back on track with a relatively-easy hold, despite Karolina Pliskova knocking a wonderful inside-out forehand down the line for 40-15.

    That's as good as it gets for the Czech, a long forehand clinching the hold for Halep.

    She skips off court for glug of water at the changeover.

    Simona HalepGetty Images