PARIS, June 5 (Reuters) – Ask Marko Jankovic whether his sister Jelena has got the passion back for tennis and the answer would be a resounding yes.

Marko, her interim coach, took his place in Chatrier Court at the French Open on Wednesday and was in the firing line as the 28-year-old lost in the quarter-final to defending champion Maria Sharapova despite a stunning first set which she won 6-0.

PARIS (Reuters) – Maria Sharapova blocked out a 28-minute horror show to beat Jelena Jankovic and Victoria Azarenka eased past Maria Kirilenko to set up a heavyweight French Open semi-final on Wednesday.

Defending champion Sharapova lost her usual steely focus as she failed to win a game in a torrid opening set but the number two seed recovered to grind out a 0-6 6-4 6-3 victory.

PARIS, June 5 (Reuters) – Maria Sharapova blocked out a 28-minute horror show to beat Jelena Jankovic and Victoria Azarenka eased past Maria Kirilenko to set up a heavyweight French Open semi-final on Wednesday.

Defending champion Sharapova lost her usual steely focus as she failed to win a game in a torrid opening set but the number two seed recovered to grind out a 0-6 6-4 6-3 victory.

PARIS (Reuters) – Escaping defeat for the fourth round in succession proved a step too far for Tommy Robredo as he was crushed by a machine named David Ferrer on Tuesday.

Ferrer reached his second successive French Open semi-final with a 6-2 6-1 6-1 demolition of fellow Spaniard Robredo. He has conceded only 36 games in five rounds.

PARIS, June 4 (Reuters) – Escaping defeat for the fourth round in succession proved a step too far for Tommy Robredo as he was crushed by a machine named David Ferrer on Tuesday.

Ferrer reached his second successive French Open semi-final with a 6-2 6-1 6-1 demolition of fellow Spaniard Robredo. He has conceded only 36 games in five rounds.

PARIS (Reuters) – Roger Federer calls Jo-Wilfried Tsonga a “great friend” but received no mercy from the Frenchman who swept him aside in devastating fashion on Tuesday to boost hopes of a first home men’s winner at Roland Garros since 1983.

An inspired Tsonga played like a man on a mission and Federer simply could not live with him, slumping to a chastening 7-5 6-3 6-3 French Open quarter-final defeat in front of a spellbound crowd on a sun-drenched Philippe Chatrier court.

PARIS, June 4 (Reuters) – Roger Federer calls Jo-Wilfried Tsonga a “great friend” but received no mercy from the Frenchman who swept him aside in devastating fashion on Tuesday to boost hopes of a first home men’s winner at Roland Garros since 1983.

An inspired Tsonga played like a man on a mission and Federer simply could not live with him, slumping to a chastening 7-5 6-3 6-3 French Open quarter-final defeat in front of a spellbound crowd on a sun-drenched Philippe Chatrier court.

PARIS (Reuters) – Serena Williams proved she is fallible after all with a mid-match implosion against Svetlana Kuznetsova at the French Open on Tuesday but again underlined her rapacious appetite for grand slam silverware to set up a semi-final against Sara Errani.

A 6-1 3-6 6-3 scoreline in the 31-year-old’s favor disguised a fitful performance from the American who started like a runaway express train, came to a grinding halt in the face of a fierce Russian revival, then, re-stoked the fire to charge to victory.

PARIS, June 4 (Reuters) – Serena Williams proved she is fallible after all with a mid-match implosion against Svetlana Kuznetsova at the French Open on Tuesday but again underlined her rapacious appetite for grand slam silverware to set up a semi-final against Sara Errani.

A 6-1 3-6 6-3 scoreline in the 31-year-old’s favour disguised a fitful performance from the American who started like a runaway express train, came to a grinding halt in the face of a fierce Russian revival, then, re-stoked the fire to charge to victory.

PARIS (Reuters) – All Rafael Nadal wanted for his 27th birthday at the French Open on Monday was his forehand back and he got his wish as the Spaniard’s most feared weapon demolished Japan’s Kei Nishikori and sent the defending champion into the quarter-finals.

The left-hander, bidding to become the first man to win one of the sport’s grand slams eight times, played his most impressive tennis of the tournament so far to claim a 6-4 6-1 6-2 victory.