Samantha Stosur has booked her place in the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time since 2012 courtesy of a straight-sets victory over Tsvetana Pironkova at the French Open this evening.
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Both players had benefited from the miserable weather at Roland Garros to spring upsets in the fourth round, but it was Stosur who came out on top in the battle of the unexpected quarter-finalists with a 6-4 7-6(6) victory.
The Australian found herself behind in the first set, however, as Pironkova broke twice in a three-game spell during which neither player was able to hold on to their own serve.
The break points continued to arrive, but after Stosur had saved three more in the seventh game she strung together a run of four games in a row that took her to a 6-4 win in the opener.
Once again Pironkova, who is currently ranked outside the top 100, was the first to break in the second set as she moved into a 3-1 lead, but Stosur fought back and eventually forced a tie-break.
Pironkova appeared to be in control of the breaker when she led 5-1, but the 21st seed once again recovered, surviving a set point before wrapping up the match with an 8-6 triumph.
Stosur will now take on Garbine Muguruza in the semi-finals.
