Serena Williams and Sara Errani faced off in the second women's French Open semi-final on Thursday.
World number one Williams was the overwhelming favourite to scoop the top prize at Roland Garros this year, but, as a clay-court specialist, Errani was considered to have an outside chance.
The Italian reached the final in Paris 12 months ago, only to be beaten in straight sets by Maria Sharapova.
Errani knew that if she could cause an upset on Court Philippe Chatrier then she would set up a repeat of that match, as the Russian had earlier overcame Victoria Azarenka 6-1 2-6 6-4 in the other last-four clash.
Find out how this match unfolded below with Sports Mole's blow-by-blow text coverage.
Welcome to Court Philippe Chatrier, where Sara Errani is aiming to end her career winless streak against Serena Williams.
In their five previous encounters, Errani, who is seeded fifth, has only won one set.
However, Errani is in good form at Roland Garros, having reached the final last year.
Williams, whose only French Open singles title to date came in 2002, has won 60 games and lost only 20 during this week's tournament.
Play is about to get underway, with Williams preparing to serve. Can Errani pull off a big upset? I doubt it, but let's find out.
Ominous start as Williams holds to love. Errani was not able to get in to any of those four points on the American's serve.
Impressive response by Errani, who implements a superb drop shot to get on the board with her first point of the match. 15-15.
BREAK: Williams is showing absolutely no respect to the Errani serve, which is getting battered back at the Italian at double the original speed. The break is inevitable and comes to 40.
Another comfortable hold for Williams.
The only way that this match is going to be competitive is if Williams becomes complacent. The first signs of that being a possibility are seen as the top seed cracks a couple of wild forehands well wide. 30-15.
It seems as though Williams was almost teasing her opponent with those errors. She quickly makes amends with three sensational winners to race into a four-game lead.
Make that 5-0 as Williams holds to love again. We have been playing for just over 18 minutes. Scary.
SET WILLIAMS: Errani looks on helplessly as Serena hammers back two sensational flat winners to help her break to love and inflict a bagel set on the fifth seed.
Williams won 26 of 34 points in that opening set, which lasted just 21 minutes.
Errani got 18 of 20 first serves into play, but it mattered not as Williams won 14 (70%) receiving points.
Williams continues to dominate as set two gets underway, holding to 30.
Williams breaks to love. This is painful to watch. Right now, I can't even see Errani getting a single game on the board.
If Errani does lose 0-6 0-6, it will not be the first time that a whitewash has been inflicted in the latter stages of the French Open. In 1988, Steffi Graf beat Natasha Zvereva 6-0 6-0 inside just 32 minutes of the final.
A massive ace on 40-0 helps Williams hold to love for the third time today.
ERRANI HOLDS! Court Philippe Chatrier stands and applauds as the 26-year-old stands up to her bully and holds to 30. Williams certainly did not want to lose that game, but she did aide her opponent's cause with two big unforced errors.
Normal service is resumed as Williams holds to love.
Williams has three break points, but wastes the first by flapping a double-handed backhand wide. Despite leading by a landslide, she screams with self-disapointment. Calm down, dear!
Williams breaks to 15 with some mammoth mid-court striking. She is just four points away from the final.
GAME SET AND MATCH WILLIAMS! The American races into a 40-0 lead, but fails to convert her first match point as Errani bamboozles her with a fierce volley that just catches the baseline. Williams quickly responds, though, and seals victory with her fifth ace of the day.
Well, that wasn't very nice to watch at all. Not a great advert for modern women's tennis either. Errani is fifth in the world and a clay-court specialist. She made just three unforced errors, but was only able to win 16 of 68 points. Of course, It must be said that Serena was outstanding, but the main moral of the story is that size matters in this sport! Good night.
Written by
Robert Summerscales
Robert Summerscales
