Magical Argentine makes
French Open semis

Clarisa Fernandez mixed a magical potion of power and grace to upset favourite Paola Suarez 2-6, 7-6, 6-1 on Tuesday and become the first unseeded women's French Open semi-finalist in more than a decade.

The 20-year-old Argentine's victory, coming just five years after she first picked up a tennis racket, also gives the South American country its first semi-finalist at Roland Garros since Gabriela Sabatini in 1992.

Fernandez's dream run in the French capital comes in only her third Grand Slam and is the stuff of fairy-tales, comprising victories over last year's runner-up and fourth seed Kim Clijsters and 13th seed Elena Dementieva.

"It is amazing to be here in the semi-finals," she beamed after being cheered off court.

"I never really expected to be able to manage this so soon."

Not since current champion Jennifer Capriati reached the semi-finals here in 1990 has a non-seed reached the last four. Things had not started so well for the lanky left-hander, however.

Suarez, who beat Fernandez in their only previous meeting two weeks ago in Madrid, continued her dominance over her less experienced compatriot, and Fernandez appeared over-awed in the opener.

ELDER ARGENTINE

The elder Argentine wrapped up the set 6-2 on a chilly Court Suzanne Lenglen, as fans tugged at their scarves and wrapped pullovers round their shoulders.

Fernandez countered in the second set, though. By some trick of timing and momentum she started to coax her willowy, wafer-thin arms into welting the ball past her more powerfully-built compatriot.

The pair exchanged early breaks and then greedily held their own serves for the last five games to force a tiebreak.

Fernandez took an early lead and kept her nose in front to earn two set points at 6-4. Suarez saved the first with a brave forehand winner down the line, leaving Fernandez to serve for the second set.

Her first delivery, swung out wide, clipped the net but dropped onto the line for a let.

Switching direction completely, she hurled the second one down the middle. The line-judge called it out but Suarez, recognising she had been aced, generously conceded the set and walked to her seat.

Flying around the court now, in her fire-engine red skirt and sleeveless white top, Fernandez rode the momentum into the third set, breaking in the first game when Suarez nudged a forehand long.

Inexperience showed in the next game, however, when she failed to consolidate, needlessly handing Suarez the break back when she hit a second serve long on break point.

The wasteful delivery angered Fernandez and she hit back immediately, breaking to love for a 2-1 lead.

Having learnt her lesson she cracked in an ace when trailing love-30 on her next serve before holding to take a 3-1 lead.

Suarez missed two points to hold in the next game and, with nerves getting the better of her, double-faulted to give Fernandez a 4-1 lead in the decider.

She held and the pressure on Suarez became too great. She saved one match point, but on the second attempted a drop shot which Fernandez read and scooped past her down the line.