Birthday battle in semis

Swiss 30th seed Timea Bacsinszky reached the French Open semifinals for the second time on Tuesday and will meet Latvian teenager Jelena Ostapenko for a shot at the title.

Bacsinszky downed French hope Kristina Mladenovic 6-4, 6-4 on a rain-hit day at Roland Garros, while 19-year-old Ostapenko stunned Caroline Wozniacki 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

Bacsinszky or Ostapenko can make it a double celebration when they meet on Thursday as both women celebrate their birthdays. Bacsinszky will be 28; Ostapenko will turn 20.

Tuesday's matches both lasted just under two hours in duration but took the best part of six hours to complete after two rain delays -- one lasting three hours.

The weather interruptions forced Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic's quarterfinals to be pushed back until Wednesday, drawing a deafening chorus of boos from the Paris crowd.

"I feel extremely privileged to be in a second semi-final at Roland Garros," said Bacsinszky, whose run to the last four two years ago was ended by Serena Williams in three sets.

"It was extremely difficult today. There was fine weather, then rain, wind and a sandstorm."

"I had to stay concentrated. I am sorry for the crowd but happy for me."

Ostapenko became the first Latvian woman to reach the last four of a Grand Slam after toppling former world number one Wozniacki.

"I'm really happy, I cannot believe it still," said Ostapenko.

“I had to stay aggressive. I was missing sometimes but in the end it worked out. It will be really great to play here when it will be my birthday. I hope I can enjoy it."