French Open

They said it would never happen, but, right on time, our semi-final line-up is complete.

The men's sorts out like this:

Andy Murray v Stan Wawrinka

Novak Djokovic v Dominic Thiem

The women's last four goes thus:

Serena Williams v Kiki Bertens

Garbine Muguruza v Sam Stosur

World number 58 Kiki Bertens is in tears over on Suzanne-Lenglen Court.

She's come through her quarter-final against world number nine Timea Bacsinszky 7-5 6-2 to reach the last four of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career.

The Dutch 24-year-old now has the simple task of getting past Serena Williams. Gulp.   

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

A short and sweet post-match interview on court from Serena Williams.

She was asked about Putintseva and said: "She's unbelievable and I didn't think I was going to win that but somehow I did. 

"Thank you for the support."

Serena Williams racks up three match points.

Still Yulia Putintseva is not willing to play the role of gallant loser.

She fights back to 40-30 with a deep backhand that Serena chases in vain.

And then a vicious little cross-court wallop is past the American's groping racquet.

The crowd are loving this.

Lady Luck hands Yulia Putintseva a well-earned slice of luck pie, giving the Kazakh's drop-shot a leg-over the net at 40-30.

She is on the board in the decider.

She is likely to be out of it in the next game.

Serena to serve for the last four.

"There's plenty of young, inexperienced players who would have faded away in this third set. Despite the score, Putintseva's given it everything."

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

...of victory.

The Dutch world number 58 is 4-1 up in the second set against Timea Bacsinszky having won the first set 7-5. 

She looks set to join Garbine Muguruza and Samantha Stosur in the women's semis. 

But will Bertens play Serena Williams or Yulia Putintseva? 

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

The skills are all there, but so is the sheer bloody-minded mongrelness needed to compete with the very best.

Yulia Putintseva is chasing to the end, forcing a break point as she scrapes a drop-shot up of the floor.

Serena Williams saves that one though. And she does not look like being derailed.

Serena Williams stretches wide and cranks back a return at an absurd angle for an eye-popping winner.

She punches the air in glee in reaction. Putintseva looks to the skies for divine assistance.

It is not forthcoming. She is double break down and on the brink.

So strong for so long, Yulia Putintseva is starting to crumble.

The Kazakh misses her first serve at 15-30 down, dashes her racquet to the floor and then misses with her second.

But she knuckles down and save both break points,

The way that Serena Williams lays the towel over her knees at a changeover is a little like a pensioner on a day-trip to the seaside.

The way she is playing right now is a lot more sprightly.

Another titanium-lined service game. Putintseva could be left far behind if she isn't careful.

A big game coming up...

Serena Williams with a backhand slug that smears across the paint for a clean winner and 15-30.

She was nowhere near settled with her feet. It didn't make a difference.

Yulia Putintseva throws her arms up in despair.

Two break points on their way - and Putintseva buries the ball into the midpoint of the net.

The beginning of the end?

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

Serena Williams usually makes unexpectedly heavy weather of at least one match on her way to a Grand Slam final.

Is this one of those? Or might Yulia Putintseva be a headline rather than a footnote?

Williams is set to business mode in the first game as she holds to 15 with a whipped forehand into open court and a clenched fist.

Britain's Jordanne Whiley pulled off a massive scalp in the wheelchair singles earlier today.

The 2015 US Open champion beat Dutch world number one Jiske Griffioen 6-0 2-6 6-3 to progress to the French Open semi-finals for the first time. 

But compatriot Lucy Shuker went out in three sets against Marjolein Buis. 

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Kiki Bertens has nabbed the first set 7-5 against world number nine Timea Bacsinszky in the other women's quarter-final.

Bertens, number 58 in the world, has never reached the semi-finals before while her Swiss opponent is hoping to make the last four for the second year running. 

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Serena Williams goes back to the well one too many times as she drop-shots straight into the foot of the net at 0-15 up.

Instead she turns the power dial up to 11 again and Putintseva finds herself two set points down at 15-40.

What a touch! Putintseva saves the first with a nerveless cross-court reply to a Serena drop-shot. Perfection.

But then comes the aberration. 

A double-fault and a free pass to a deciding set for Williams.

"Some of the errors from Serena have been spectacularly awful. When she gets it on she really get it wrong."

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

Another break point. But Yulia Putintseva clubs a forehand long as the ball sits up pretty for her via a net-cord snick.

How many times might that one get replayed in the underdog's dreams tonight?

Serena's advantage as she tickles in a drop-shot with so much delicacy it is like he is wearing elbow-length velvet gloves.

Putintseva wide and Williams throws her arms into the air in delight.

This match is taking her deep into her emotional reserves.