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.
