Simona Halep and Karolina Pliskova into French Open semi-finals

Simona Halep saved match points on her way to French Open quarter-final victory over Elina Svitolina and a semi-final showdown with Karolina Pliskova.

The Romanian is the bookmakers favourite for the title but had to do things the hard way having lost the first set and slumping to a 5-1 deficit in the second.

But Halep, runner-up in Paris in 2014, battled back brilliantly to save a match point against the in-form Ukrainian and claim the tie-break before running away the decider to complete a 3-6 7-6 6-0 success.

Svitolina, winner of four titles already this season, flew out of the traps, overpowering her opponent to win the opener.

With both players seeking a maiden Grand Slam title it was Svitolina who looked to be holding her nerve as she motored to a huge advantage in the second set, but having seen her attitude criticised by her coach Darren Cahill recently, Halep showed renewed battling qualities to reach the last four.

World no 4 Halep will now face Pliskova for a place in the final on Thursday.

Pliskova's victory was a more routine affair as she ended the hopes of the last French player in either the men's or women's draw with a 7-6 6-4 win over Carolina Garcia.

The Czech, who is world No 3, ran out a 7-6 6-4 winner and with the added prospect of the world no 1 ranking if she claims the title, she will take on Halep in what promises to be a high-quality affair.

The other semi-final was decided amid the wind and rain of Tuesday at Roland Garros, teenager Jelana Ostapenko reaching the last four where she will face Swiss 30th seed Timea Bacsinszky who ended Kristina Mladenovic's hopes.