Qualifier Podoroska shocks Svitolina to make semifinals

Argentina’s Nadia Podoroska became the first qualifier in the Open era on Tuesday to reach the women’s semifinals at Roland Garros after stunning third seed Elina Svitolina 6-2, 6-4.

World number 131 Podoroska had never won a Grand Slam main draw match before the tournament and is the first Argentine woman to reach the last four of a major since Paola Suarez in Paris in 2004.

The 23-year-old Podoroska will play Polish teenager Iga Swiatek or Italian qualifier Martina Trevisan for a place in Saturday’s final.

“It’s a little bit difficult for me to speak now after the match,” said Podoroska.