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Paris - Czech second seed Karolina Pliskova reached the French Open semi-finals for the first time on Wednesday with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 win over home hope Caroline Garcia.
Pliskova will play 2014 Roland Garros runner-up Simona Halep, who saved a match point and rallied from 6-3, 5-1 down to beat Elina Svitolina, in the last four.
The Czech edged a marathon 77-minute first set against 28th seed Garcia in a tie-break, having failed to convert an earlier set point at 5-3.
The 25-year-old then broke Garcia as the Frenchwoman served to stay in the match to clinch just her second semi-final appearance at a Grand Slam.
"It was very tough. She played very well, we were both serving well. She played a great tournament, even today, it was 50-50, it came down to about two points I'm really glad I made it," said Pliskova.
She entered this year's Roland Garros with just two wins in five previous visits.
"I am very happy. Before the tournament I wasn't sure if I could play good tennis on clay."
Pliskova, 25, will replace Angelique Kerber as the new world number one if she makes the final in Paris.
French Open results on Wednesday, the 11th day of the 2017 tournament at Roland Garros (x denotes seeding):
Men
Quarter-finals
Rafael Nadal (ESP x4) bt Pablo Carreno Busta (ESP x20) 6-2, 2-0 retired
Dominic Thiem (AUT x6) bt Novak Djokovic (SRB x2) 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-0
