Storming Simona in amazing fightback

SIMONA HALEP admitted she had no idea how she managed to pull off one of the most remarkable comebacks seen at the French Open.

The third seed from Romania somehow secured a place in the semi-final from a set and 5-1 down, snatching the second set on a tie-break and romping to a 6-0 victory in the third.

Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina looked a sure bet for the last four and twice served for the match. Even when Halep won five games in a row, Svitolina still squandered a match point at 6-5 in the tie-break.

“I don’t know how I came back,” said 25-year-old Halep, below, who won 12 of the last 13 games on Suzanne Lenglen court and served out the match with an ace. “She was playing tough, hard and strong. Maybe I was a little lucky but I didn’t give up.” Svitolina was determined to put a brave face on things. “You want me to cry?” she said.

“I cannot be more positive. It’s tennis, it’s life, it happens.”

Halep will play Karolina Pliskova, the world No3 from the Czech Republic, today after the second seed beat Caroline Garcia 7-6, 6-4 in her quarter-final.

Garcia, the world No28, was the last French player in either draw but despite the support of the home crowd, was powerless to manufacture an upset against an opponent who insisted she was not as in control of her emotions as she looked.

“I saw myself on TV and it looks like I’m relaxed,” Pliskova said. “But sometimes inside myself it’s not like this. I’m just trying not to show any emotion, especially on those big points. I just believed I can make it”

Pliskova will take over from Angelique Kerber as world No1 if she reaches the final.

In the other semi-final, also today, unseeded Latvian Jelena Ostapenko faces Timea Bacsinszky, of Switzerland, which means this year’s champion at Roland Garros is guaranteed to be a first-time Grand Slam winner.