Sharapova and Azarenka face off for final spot

Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka set up a mouth-watering French Open semi-final yesterday with hard-fought wins in their quarter-finals.

The defending champion Russian, seeded second this year, survived a nightmare start to hold on to her crown for at least another day with a 0-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over tough Jelena Jankovic in a compelling quarter-final tie.

World number three Azarenka, meanwhile, reached her first semi-final at Roland Garros when she defeated friend and former doubles partner, Maria Kirilenko of Russia, 7-6 (7-3), 6-2.

Sharapova and Azarenka have played each other 12 times with the Belarusian 7-5 ahead, although it will be their first meeting this year.

Sharapova was all over the place for a set and 30 minutes in her match against Jankovic, but with the exit beckoning, she steadied her nerves enough.

"She played such a great match from the beginning and was very aggressive," Sharapova said. "I knew after the first set that I had to change things around. I just had to erase the chapter and move forward."