Tennis: Seventeen-year-old Nicole Vaidisova came from a set down to beat Venus Williams and reach the semi-finals of the French Open in Paris today.
The Czech's dream run continued as she blasted her way to a 6-7 (5/7) 6-1 6-3 victory.
In a match between two of the most powerful hitters on the tour, Vaidisova made the better start. She gained the first break when Williams netted an attempted smash.
That was one of many early errors from the American which helped the Czech race into a 4-1 lead as the Wimbledon champion's serve was broken for a second time - to love - in game five.
The teenager, who had defeated top seed Amelie Mauresmo in the previous round, had clearly started the brighter but errors began to creep into her game, in particular several double faults.
Williams was raising her level too and as a result she reeled off four straight games to lead 5-4 to heap the pressure on her opponent.
Vaidisova held firm as the set went into a tie-break, but the breaker followed the same pattern as the rest of the set - Williams coming from behind to take it by seven points to five.
A tight start to the second set meant almost every game was going to deuce, but Vaidisova broke for 3-1 and then pulled away to take the set 6-1 and level the match at one-set all.
Williams halted the run of five straight games at the start of the decider but a mistake in the fifth game gave Vaidisova the advantage at 3-2.
When Williams missed a break-back chance in the very next game the pressure was really on the 11th seed. She fought on, saving two break points in her next service game.
The crunching forehands of both players were creating some fine rallies but there were to be few more.
Williams stepped up to serve to stay in the match at 3-5 but was unable to hold and Vaidisova completed a 6-7 6-1 6-3 win to set up a meeting with Svetlana Kuznetsova. PA