French Open, day 12 schedule and preview: Grand Slam semi-final debutants take centre stage in Paris

Maria Sakkari, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Barbora Krejcikova or Tamara Zidansek will continue the recent trend of new Grand Slam champions at this year’s French Open after another tournament littered with surprises.

For just the second time in the Open era, there are four first-time major semi-finalists in the women’s singles, after the 1978 Australian Open.

Sakkari is the highest-ranked player left in the field at 18 in the world, 67 places above Zidansek, the first woman representing Slovenia to make the last four of a Slam.

A couple 👣 away from the 🏆

Full OOP 👉 https://t.co/MZ4LLcWGh1#RolandGarros pic.twitter.com/GHRZdyqYgt

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) June 9, 2021

From veteran Pavlyuchenkova to rising Greek star Sakkari: Meet the French Open semi-finalists

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS x31) v Tamara Zidansek (SLO)

Paths to the semi-final (x indicates seeded player):

Pavlyuchenkova

1st rd: bt Christina McHale (USA) 6-4, 6-0

2nd rd: bt Ajla Tomljanovic (AUS) 6-2, 6-3

3rd rd: bt Aryna Sabalenka (BLR x3) 6-4, 2-6, 6-0

4th rd: bt Victoria Azarenka (BLR x15) 5-7, 6-3, 6-2

QF: bt Elena Rybakina (KAZ x21) 6-7 (2/7), 6-2, 9-7

Zidansek

1st rd: bt Bianca Andreescu (CAN x6) 6-7 (1/7), 7-6 (7/2), 9-7

2nd rd: bt Madison Brengle (USA) 6-4, 6-1

3rd rd: bt Katerina Siniakova (CZE) 0-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2

4th rd: bt Sorana Cirstea (ROM) 7-6 (7/4), 6-1

QF: bt Paula Badosa (ESP x33) 7-5, 4-6, 8-6

Head-to-head: First meeting

– Despite the return to its traditional May-June slot,…

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