French Open 2023 live - Quarter final updates as Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova faces Karolina Muchova on Court Philippe-Chatrier

Karolina Muchova moves beyond the 20-winner mark as she serves it out on her second match point from deuce, saving a break back point, to reach the semi finals of the French Open for the first time.

The Czech World No.43 was too solid for an error-strewn Pavlyuchenkova, who bows out after a fantastic run in the Grand Slam she was a runner-up in two years ago.

Muchova will meet Aryna Sabalenka or Elina Svitolina in the last four.

The 2021 finalist nails an ace and two winners as she keeps her very slim hopes alive.

Muchova will now serve for the match.

Is Karolina heading towards just her second ever appearance at a major semi final?

She makes short work of a hold to 15 to back up the double break and move within as game of the last four.

There’s that wrong-footing forehand up the line again as Muchova springs from defence into attack to conjure up triple break point.

Pavlyuchenkova survives one but flashes a very loose forehand well wide on the second to cough up the double break.

It’s surely Muchova’s to lose now.

It’s a similar story for Muchova as a double fault at 40-15 complicates matters. However, the Czech locks in at deuce and remains in control of the match.

Nastia hits clutch mode from deuce with a first ace dragging on her on to the board after Muchova had fought back from 40-15 down.

Nastia bends down and leans on her knees in disappointment. A further two unforced errors prove costly as she continues to force the issue trying to manufacture a way back into the contest. In contrast, Muchova remains solid and chalks up winners 14 and 15 on her way to consolidating with the minimum of fuss.

‘Czech’ mate!

Muchova makes two impressive moves to the net, luring a block error and a lob long from a rushed Pavlyuchenkova, who also threw in her third double fault of the day as she is broken for a fourth time.

What a way to take charge! Muchova races to her right to sizzle a stunning wrong-footing forehand up the line on the run to snare two set points. She only needs one of them as Nastia can’t find the island on the return and the Czech grabs the opener after a topsy-turvy 57 minutes on Chatrier.

That is rather awful from Nastia’s point of view. A trio of unforced errors are compounded by a double fault to finish as she pretty much breaks herself. The Russian has battled hard to stay in this set on several occasions and she’s going to have to find form on the return once again as Muchova gets ready to serve for the opener once again.

It’s not to be for Muchova as Nastia pings away her eighth and ninth winners of the morning to pave the path to a break to 15.

The Czech fails too serve it out and on we go in the opener!

There’s that swing of the pendulum as Muchova snatches the advantage once again. The Czech earns a huge slice of luck when a forehand up the line balloons off the top of the tape and makes a beeline for the body of Pavlyuchenkova, who can only skew an awkward reaction shot into the tramlines.

Muchova, who is currently on her best ever run at Roland Garros having previously failed to go beyond round three, knows she needs a big response and duly delivers, producing a bewitching crosscourt backhand slice to outfox the Russian’s dart to the net and level up with a hold to 15.

Now, this is the match we were all anticipating. There’s a clear swing in momentum as the Russian World No.333 hits the front with a hold that secures a third game on the spin.

How often does that happen? Muchova pressed so hard for the double break and hadn’t lost a point on serve - until now.

The World No.43 has game point but can’t see it out, leaving Pavlyuchenkova to lash a backhand return up the line to break on her very first opportunity.

The Russian stares at her box and raises her left arm aloft. After a timid start, she has arrived fashionably late at this quarter-final party.

Karolina will be frustrated to end up empty-handed after an 11-minute pursuit of the double break. The Czech World No.43 applies almost constant pressure and showcases some sublime volleying at the net but can’t take any of the FIVE break points she creates and Pavlyuchenkova is able to come through unscathed.

Muchova chalks up her second love hold of the match, executing a delicious angled volley to seal the game.

Many pundits were predicting a lengthy battle here but we are racing through the games at the moment. Is that the calm before the storm?

It’s a loose return game from Muchova and Pavlyuchenkova will be delighted as she clocks up the cheap points to get on the board and respond with her own hold to love.