Halep battles back to book her place in last four

Simona Halep did not realise she saved a match point as she completed one of the French Open’s best comebacks to reach the semi-finals.

The title favourite looked to be heading home when she trailed Elina Svitolina 6-3 5-1 only to win 12 of the last 13 games.

Having twice been broken serving for the match, Svitolina saved four set points at 5-6 to force a second set tiebreak.

She had her first match point at 6-5 but Halep found the outside of the line and the Romanian then took her chance, going on to win 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-0.

Halep said of the match point: “I didn’t realise. I watched after, when I was stretching, on Twitter a little bit. And the backhand down the line at match point, I was like: ‘Was it match point for her?’ It was better, actually (not knowing).”

The third seed was briefly dumped by coach Darren Cahill in March because of her poor attitude and the Australian will certainly know he made the right decision in coming back after this superb display of fighting spirit.

Halep said: “I feel that she played unbelievable tennis in the first set and until the end of the second set, 5-1.

“I just sat down at 5-2. I said that the match is lost. So if I did nothing to change something, to change the rhythm, that’s it, it’s over.

In the semis Halep will play second seed Karolina Pliskova, who ended French hopes for another year with a 7-6 (7-3) 6-4 win over Caroline Garcia.

The Czech does not like clay and had won only two matches in five previous visits to Roland Garros.

Pliskova said: “I don’t think it’s better, but somehow I’m just winning. Today I can finally say I felt a little bit better on the court compared to the last matches.”

Timea Bacsinszky and Jelena Ostapenko meet in the other semifinal on what will be a great birthday for one and a disappointing one for the other as they both chase a first grand slam final.

Simon Halep: saved a match point without knowing.