Amanda Anisimova has reached the semi-finals of the French Open with a straight-sets win over defending champion Simona Halep. Romanian third seed Halep, 27, lost 6-2 6-4 to the unseeded 17-year-old.

The American teenager Anisimova had never won a match at Roland Garros before this year but is yet to drop a set on the way to her first Grand Slam semi-final.

The world number 51 will face Australian eighth seed Ashleigh Barty, who beat American Madison Keys 6-3 7-5.

As well as winning her unaccompanied Grand Slam title in Paris, former world number one Halep, 27, was runner-up at this tournament in 2017 and 2014.

But her trounce means there are no Grand Slam champions left in the women’s draw.

In fact Anisimova is one of two teenagers in the last four as Czech 19-year-old Marketa Vondrousova will face Britain’s Johanna Konta in  semi-final.

She got the first break of the match, to lead 4-2, after forcing Halep to hit the ball long as she was pinned back behind the baseline.

However Halep had a break point in the next game, but Anisimova held and broke Halep’s serve once more to win the first set in 28 minutes.

Despite Halep hitting an 80mph winner, Anisimova broke again to take a 2-0 lead at the start of the second set. As chants of ‘Simona’ broke out on Philippe-Chatrier, Anisimova saved three break points to hold serve and lead 4-1.
Meanwhile, Halep broke back as the American hit a ball long, but a double fault at 5-4 down brought up match point and former French Open junior finalist Anisimova kept her composure to win just her eighth match at a Grand Slam.