Safarova, Ivanovic into French semis

Paris - Lucie Safarova and Ana Ivanovic will clash for a place in the French Open final after comfortably defeating younger rivals at a windswept Roland Garros on Tuesday.

Ivanovic reached her first Grand Slam semi-final in seven years when she beat Ukraine's Elina Svitolina 6-3, 6-2 while Safarova booked a place in the French Open last four for the first time by seeing off Garbine Muguruza 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.

Serb seventh seed Ivanovic, 27, last made the semi-finals of a major on her way to her only Grand Slam title in Paris in 2008.

"I don't know whether to feel happy or old," said Ivanovic, who has now won all her seven meetings against Svitolina, seven years her junior.

A win apiece

Out on Court Suzanne Lenglen, Czech left-hander Safarova, 28, followed-up her fourth-round defeat of world number two and defending champion Maria Sharapova with a straight sets beating of 21-year-old Muguruza.

Safarova will be playing in her second career Grand Slam semi-final after making the last four at Wimbledon in 2014.

"It's amazing to be in the semi-finals," said Safarova who will hope to go on and become the first left-hander to win the title in Paris since Monica Seles in 1992.

"It's hard to explain my feelings....wow! I am excited and ready to face Ana."

Safarova holds a 5-3 career lead over Ivanovic with a win apiece on clay.

Ivanovic won on the way to her 2008 title in Paris while Safarova gained revenge at the tournament last year.

Meanwhile play was suspended for about 15 minutes in the quarter-final match between France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Japanese Kei Nishikori after a panel fell from a commentary box on to the crowd.   No one was injured.

Strong winds have been blowing in Paris all day.