Second seed Coco Gauff wins 6-1 6-2 against French wildcard Lois Boisson to reach French Open final
Boisson's memorable run ends after she began tournament as world number 361
Gauff will play Aryna Sabalenka, who defeated Iga Swiatek in three sets to reach Saturday's final
Gauff and Sabalenka both bidding for first Paris title
Swiatek was three-time defending champion at Roland Garros
Sabalenka 7-6 (7-1) 0-1 Swiatek*
And there it is!
Iga Swiatek lets rip with a backhand to clinch the break and move ahead in set two. That sets us up very nicely indeed...
Image source, Getty Images*Sabalenka 7-6 (7-1) 0-0 Swiatek
Aryna Sabalenka is being ruthless on the big points in this match and rises to the occasion once more to blast a forehand in for deuce.
The threat isn't over just yet, however. Iga Swiatek sends a backhand out of reach for a second chance.
*Sabalenka 7-6 (7-1) 0-0 Swiatek
Andrea Petkovic
Former world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds
If you look at this match rationally, Iga Swiatek's team should feel very encouraged.
She has played the better tennis in the past 20 minutes or so, if you take the tie-break out of the equation.
Can you look at it so rationally when you're in the middle of a match though? That is the question that has to be answered.
*Sabalenka 7-6 (7-1) 0-0 Swiatek
Iga Swiatek finds a return to reach 30-30 as she searches for a positive start to this must-win set, and Aryna Sabalenka sends a backhand wide to hand over a break point.
Big early opportunity for Swiatek here!
Image source, Getty Images*Sabalenka 7-6 (7-1) 0-0 Swiatek
Andrea Petkovic
Former world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds
In these tight matches between two of the best players on the tour, it is not even percentage points that make a difference, it is fractions of percentage points.
I wonder if Iga Swiatek's lack of confidence came into play there.
At the beginning of the match, she was overwhelmed by Aryna Sabalenka's power but she found her footing. She was the better player for the latter part of that set, but it all went away again in that tie-break.
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Roland Garros
If Swiatek stands any chance of turning this match around, she must serve much better.
The defending champion has only landed 54% of her first serves and Sabalenka has pummelled the second serve.
Both players decide they need a bathroom break after an opening set lasting one hour and 11 minutes.
Sabalenka is back much quicker than Swiatek and waits on the baseline for her rival.
Image source, Getty Images*Sabalenka 7-6 (7-1) 0-0 Swiatek
Well, I gave this the big sell and, after a slow start by Iga Swiatek, it is delivering.
After a 71-minute first set featuring eight breaks of serve and several dizzying momentum shifts, what will set number two have in store for us?
Iga Swiatek has left the court, while Aryna Sabalenka is sat with a towel on her head, trying to keep her concentration before beginning her push for victory.
*Sabalenka 7-6 (7-1) 0-0 Swiatek
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Roland Garros
To paraphrase an old saying, Swiatek and Sabalenka appear to have decided it is better to keep your rivals even closer than your friends.
The pair practised together in the off-season and shared a court again at Roland Garros before the tournament started.
Swiatek believes the rivalry is "pushing" both players to greater heights, while Sabalenka says they have also bonded more away from the court.
On the face of it, the pair have little in common. Swiatek is the bookish introvert, Sabalenka is the Tiger-monikered extrovert.
Doing a TikTok video together at last year's WTA Finals has helped forge what Sabalenka described as a "better relationship".
But today it is strictly business.
*Sabalenka 7-6 (7-1) 0-0 Swiatek
From 4-1 up to 5-4 down, Aryna Sabalenka dominates the tie-break to move within one set of the final.
Something tells us it won't quite be so straight forward, however.
Image source, Getty Images*Sabalenka 6-6 (6-1) Swiatek
Aryna Sabalenka will have five opportunities to finish off this topsy-turvy first set as a loose backhand from Iga Swiatek sails out.
*Sabalenka 6-6 (5-1) Swiatek
Iga Swiatek holds her nerve at the net to get up and running in the tie-break, but then misses to tighten Aryna Sabalenka's grip on this breaker.
A timely ace leaves the world number one 5-1 up and two points away from the opener.
Image source, Getty ImagesSabalenka 6-6 (3-0) Swiatek*
Andrea Petkovic
Former world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds
This has been some great tennis.
Aryna Sabalenka was going further down the lines way too early in the rally in that last game.
Will she be able to amend that in the tie-break or will she go for everything she has?
Sabalenka 6-6 (3-0) Swiatek*
Aryna Sabalenka lands the first blow of the tie-break with a huge backhand return before serving her way to a 3-0 lead.
Both players are feeling the stress here and it's impossible to tell which way it'll swing next.
Image source, Getty ImagesSabalenka 6-6 (0-0) Swiatek*
Aryna Sabalenka finds one of her best serves yet to deny Iga Swiatek, who is overpowered and left staring down at her racquet on the clay.
She picks it up and dusts herself down to force a second break point - and a miss from Sabalenka takes us to a tie-break!
Drama.
*Sabalenka 6-5 Swiatek
What a return that is - and what a time to make it!
Iga Swiatek pounces on Aryna Sabalenka's serve for a break point.
Image source, Getty Images*Sabalenka 6-5 Swiatek
As I was saying...
A couple of misses from Aryna Sabalenka gives Iga Swiatek hope at 0-30.
Jonathan Jurejko
BBC Sport senior tennis reporter at Roland Garros
Everywhere Swiatek goes there is clear evidence of Polish support.
Red and white flags, national dress and cries of 'Jazda!' - basically 'let's go' - can now be seen and heard on Court Philippe Chatrier.
Sabalenka is not backed by the same national representation.
However, the French fans respond when the Belarusian demands more acknowledgement after a fabulous winner.
*Sabalenka 6-5 Swiatek
Aryna Sabalenka strikes again to bring herself back within reach of this captivating first set!
That's the seventh break of serve in this match - but it could prove the most important. The world number one will serve for the set after an hour on court - but that is certainly not a given based on what we have seen so far...
Image source, Getty ImagesSabalenka 5-5 Swiatek*
Aryna Sabalenka races across the court to unleash a wicked forehand down the line for 0-30 as she looks to test the improving Iga Swiatek's mettle.
It's Sabalenka's turn to have a quick word with herself after she misses a backhand, and it helps her reset to force a break point - her first since the fifth game.
Sabalenka 5-5 Swiatek*
Andrea Petkovic
Former world number nine on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds
This type of performance is exactly why Iga Swiatek has won the French Open for the past three years. She is looking very good.
When she is playing well here on Court Philippe-Chatrier, she can defend but she can also go straight into offence when she gets a shorter ball.
