Gael Monfils became the first Frenchman to reach the French Open semi-finals in seven years when he defeated Spanish fifth seed David Ferrer 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 on Wednesday.
No home men's singles player since Sebastien Grosjean in 2001 has reached the last four at Roland Garros.
Safina rallies to shock Dementieva
The unseeded Monfils, who will meet world number one Roger Federer for a place in Sunday's final, is bidding for a title that has eluded French men since Yannick Noah's triumph in 1983.
Monfils broke twice in the opening set to take command of the contest but Ferrer, a claycourt specialist, comfortably levelled, only for the Frenchman to step up a gear and wrap up the win after two hours and 27 minutes.