Good afternoon. Well, that was an exhausting, intriguing and sometimes brilliant way to get today’s quarter final action underway at Roland Garros. Congratulations to Tamara Zidanšek after she edged Paula Badosa 7-5 4-6 8-6. Next up, It’s Serena Williams’ conqueror, Elena Rybakina against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. The winner of this will meet Zidanšek in the last four.

How big was this in the outcome and turnaround of the match?

GAME, SET AND MATCH! – RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 7-9 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. It’s lucky number seven for Pavlyuchenkova. The Russian had been beaten in her previous six appearances in a major quarter finals but she wasn’t to be denied this time and reaches her maiden semi final after an epic tussle with the rising 21-year-old starlet from Kazakhstan. It was a match full of momentum switches but in the end the Russian No.31 seed edged it to set up a last four showdown with Tamara Zidansek. It was hard on Rybakina who double faulted on match point. That’s a cruel way to end a two-hour and 33 minute battle but there’s no doubt the 21-year-old will be back in the years ahead.

RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 7-8 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. Anastasia is looking to make it into the semi finals of a major at the seventh time of asking. She has failed to get past the last eight in her previous six appearances at this stage at Grand Slams. She wriggles through another hold. Will this pressure eventually tell on Rybakina?

RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 7-7 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. That’s clutch and gritty work from Elena. She battles back from 0-30 and somehow snares the hold to stay alive in this pulsating finale. Pavs will wish she had the return attempt at 30-30 back as she slapped it into the net when she should have made it to claim a match point. On we go…

RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 6-7 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. In these scenarios the pressure often falls on the one having to play catch up. Pavs knows if she’s broken she still has a chance to hit back. She digs in to hold to 30 and it’s over to Rybakina. She will be feeling the heat and nerves more acutely given that any slip will be the end of the match now.

RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 6-6 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. Rybakina stands firm with a hold to 15. There’s no tie break so on we go!

RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 5-6 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. Anastasia can’t her hide her delight as Rybakina sizzles inches long from another crunching return to just miss out on deuce after being 40-0 down. The pressure swings back to the No.21 seed now…

RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 5-5 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. Big serving comes to the rescue. The Kazakhstani finds an ace and a blistering first serve to lead her through a potentially troublesome game. We are level once more.

RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 4-5 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. Anastasia slaps away a delightful forehand drive volley to take charge. Rybakina can’t respond as she gestures to her team in frustration when a forehand misses the line by a whisker to allow the Russian a sight of the finish line. Rybakina must now serve to stay in the match.

RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 4-4 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. Pavs cranks up the heat at 30-30 but an ace down the middle T and some controlled power – yes, controlled, you heard me – edges Rybakina to a vital hold. Whoever blinks now will surely miss out on a semi-final spot.

RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 3-4 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. There’s a big shout of ‘Come on!’ from Pavs as she somehow digs out the hold to 30. The Russian should have been facing break point but Rybakina inexplicably slammed an overhead wide with the point at her mercy.

BREAK! – RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 3-3 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. And it swings again… Pavlyuchenkova roars back from 30-0 down to wrestle her way back into it. This is so finely poised.

BREAK! – RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 3-2 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. The pendulum swings the way of the youngster! A double fault gives her three bites at the cherry and Pavs hands it to her on the second when she drills a backhand up the line just long.

RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 2-2 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. Back. On. Track. Rybakina seizes the reprieve and looks more focused. Has she rekindled her own belief? It’s an impressive hold to 15, ignoring the fortune of her opponent’s return dropping in off the net to level the match up.

BREAK! – RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 1-2 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. That was a huge game for both players – and it’s Rybakina who stops the rot and bites back. She desperately needed to find something there to avoid this running away from her. Pavlyuchenkova will be frustrated not to consolidate and may well have tightened up slightly.

BREAK! - RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 0-2 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. This is impressive from Pavlyuchenkova but Rybakina has completely lost her way. That’s six games on the spin for the Russian No.31 seed. Dare she consider what’s she’s on course for?

RYBAKINA 7-6 2-6 0-1 PAVLYUCHENKOVA. Frustration for Elena. She makes deuce with a brutal forehand down the line but can’t make any strides forward as a clutch winner and an ace down the middle T ensure Pavs kicks off the decider on the front foot. Rybakina seems to be really struggling to find her A-game right now.