Home favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga has reached the semi-finals of the French Open for the second time in his career thanks to a topsy-turvy five-set victory over fifth seed Kei Nishikori.
Tsonga was two sets to the good after an hour and a half, but the match ended up going on for almost four hours as Nishikori fought back to force a deciding fifth set.
Tsonga, the 14th seed at Roland Garros, eased through the opening set 6-1 and was leading 5-2 in the second when the match was delayed in startling circumstances.
Part of the roof on Court Philippe Chatrier was blown off and fell into the crowd, causing a delay that seemed to upset Tsonga's rhythm.
He managed to seal the second 6-4, but Nishikori then roared back by winning the next two sets 6-4 6-3.
Tsonga reasserted his dominance in the fifth, not offering Nishikori a single break point and coming out on top 6-3 to set up a last-four meeting with Stanislas Wawrinka, who cruised past fellow Swiss Roger Federer earlier today.
Pascal Lemesre
