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Live Commentary: French Open: Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Sara Errani - as it happened

Agnieszka Radwanska faced Sara Errani in the quarter-finals of the French Open, with the Italian advancing in straight sets.
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Agnieszka Radwanska took on last year's finalist Sara Errani in the French Open quarter-finals, but had no answer to the Italian's finesse.

In the first set both players broke a number of times, but it was Errani who was the stronger player and took the set 6-4.

The second set saw both players lose their serve more than they won it and in the end it went to a tie-break, which Errani scraped 8-6 to advance to the semis in straight sets.

Read how the action unfolded with our live text commentary below.


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Hello everyone and thanks for joining me for today's court Philippe Chatrier action. It is a glorious day in Paris so let's hope for some equally lovely tennis.

On the main show court, fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska is up against fifth seed Sara Errani.

Aside from Carla Suarez Navarro, Errani has breezed into the quarters. That includes a 6-0 6-4 win over Sabine Lisicki which is no mean feat.

Radwanska has been comfortable too, and has yet to drop a set. Her tightest match was against Dinah Pfizenmaier in the third round, but she recovered to make it look easy against Ana Ivanovic, who herself was looking on form.

Radwanska gets us started then as we're straight into the action.

Just a little nudge in the direction of Sian Cowper, who is covering court Suzanne Lenglen today - Serena Williams is just about to get underway against Svetlana Kuznetsova and you can follow the action here.

It's a comfortable hold for Radwanska, who drops just one point on the way to the opening game. That's just what she will have wanted. I'm anticipating either a close match with Errani winning, or a Radwanska blowout. We'll see, as she serves for the first time.

That's a lovely touch from Errani, who dinks a drop shot from just inside the baseline that spins away from the run of the Pole. She follows it up with some neat net play, although Randwanska's shot into the tramlines is a bit of a let-off for the Italian, who didn't volley well. An equally comfortable hold.

Errani has three break points after attacking the Radwanska serve...

BREAK! A game strewn with Radwanska errors sees the first break go to the Italian. Errani only had to be accurate there, not excellent, and that will delight her.

That's more like it from Radwanska, who goes right down the line before slicing a backhand winner the other side. A failed drop shot now gives her three break points...

BREAK! From the terrible to the brilliant from Radwanska, who improvises a backhand smash to claim the break back at the first time of asking. A really interesting battle this, so far.

We're seeing more rallies now, which is to be as expected with these two. Errani battles from 40-15 down to within a shot of deuce, but she fluffs a high smash into the tramlines to give Radwanska the game.

Brilliant point as Radwanska defends superbly to get back in the rally, but Errani is too strong with a forehand that the Pole cannot return. That said, Errani has looked very suspect with her smash today - she's either missed or passed it right back to Radwanska with every one so far. She then hits to net to hand Radwanska two break points, but saves the first with a whipped backhand past the advancing Pole. The second is saved with an aggressive net point, finishing with a simple forehand. Neither player is giving everything up as another wonderful net point is finished with a drop volley from the Italian and she eventually holds an important game - the longest of the match at 10 minutes.

BREAK! This time it's Errani's turn to dominate points on the Radwanska serve, but she spins a forehand into the tramlines with the chance to go 15-40 up. Instead Radwanska is wins the next point but Errani forces deuce by really going after the second serve. Errani earns a break point with a sumptuous lob and the takes it with the Pole going long! Advantage back with the Italian, then.

Again Errani doesn't make the most of a smash opportunity, but goes on to win the point by staying at the net and finishing with the stop volley. What a backhand! Errani emphatically holds on to the break with a booming shot down the line - Radwanska didn't move.

A good response from Radwanska then, who holds fairly comfortably to force Errani - who will be nervous - to serve out the set.

Point of the match! Radwanska gets a lob right on the line, but Errani's return lands in. Then the Italian reaches a drop shot to plant one of her own out of reach of Radwanska.

SET! No problems at all for the Italian, who took control of that set from about the midway point and deservedly claims the first. This will be a big test of Radwanska's character.

Errani gets straight on the attack, with a drop shot followed by some fine net play seeing her move 0-30 ahead.

Now three break point immediately in the second set for Errani...

BREAK! She only needs one of them as an error from Radwanska gives up her service game to love. The last time that happened she broke right back, though. As it stands Errani is racing to the semis.

BREAK! It has happened again. Clever smash from Radwanska, who instead of power drops it short where Errani has no hope of reaching it. Then a drop shot from the Italian clips the top of the net and to safety for deuce - really skilful shot. Yet another drop shot from Errani takes her to game point; again it's really well disguised. Radwanska saves it marvellously by guessing the right way with a volley - I had my savings Errani going left there, but she went right and the Pole was there. After five deuces Radwanska finally claims the game with a solid net winner.

From 0-30 down Radwanska battles back well to hit a firehand winner and force an error to level the game. She then comes to the net for 40-30 and wins a very important service game with a fantastic backhand down the line - she didn't swing at it but it didn't half fly.

BREAK! The Pole has successfully quelled the pressure from Errani and is now getting on top of matters. She is forcing errors with much harder hitting, with a fatal forehand into the net from the Italian giving up a second break running.

BREAK! Initially brilliant from Radwanska. She plops two smashes straight at Errani, but wins the point on a very difficult stretching backhand lob at the net. However, some poor shot selection gives Errani two break points. The first is saved with a fine forehand winner at the net, but she nets herself the point later and we're suddenly back with serve.

Just as quickly as Radwanska got back on top of the match, so has Errani. At 40-0 up Radwanska smashes poorly, but Errani cannot take advantage by netting the return. Then it's brilliant from Radwanska, who races in to meet a drop shot and plant her response past the reach of the Italian. She left herself with too much to do, though, as she goes wide with a backhand smash and we are back level. Errani knows how vital that hold was - she's pumped.

What play from Errani. A delightful drop shot on the run leaves Radwanska for dead at 0-30.

BREAK! Radwanska responds nicely with a good net point but Errani then shows her how that is done as well with a forehand winner. That sets up two break point but she only needs one - Radwanska nets from the baseline with a backhand. Errani is two away from the semi-finals.

BREAK! Well it looked like Errani was on top, but Radwanska again turns it up for a game and breaks straight back. Neither player is able to hold their serve at the moment and we could be heading for a breaker.

BREAK! It's Errani's turn for a delightful lob as she clips the line with Radwanska advancing. Radwanska is now just playing baseline, accurate tennis and at the moment it's working. That said, Errani comes to the net to win an inside-out forehand to bring us to deuce, and takes the game when Radwanska slaps long! Errani will serve for the match.

BREAK! I think it makes more sense to point out what game aren't breaks! Radwanska completely dominates the Errani serve and brings us level once more.

Finally a hold of serve. Radwanska is suddenly looking very good - although there was a lot of resistance from the Italian. Now, two games after serving for the match, she serves to stay in the set.

Very solid from Errani, who doesn't allow Radwanska a look in there and she takes us to a tie-break.

Radwanska 0-1* Errani

Radwanska 1-1* Errani

Radwanska *2-1 Errani

Radwanska 2-2* Errani - A really brilliant rally finished off with a neat touch at the feet of Radwanska.

Radwanska 3-2* Errani

Radwanska *3-3 Errani

Radwanska *3-4 Errani

Radwanska *4-4 Errani

Radwanska 5-4* Errani - A fine drop shot from Errani is followed up by a lob but she goes just long. Unlucky.

Radwanska 5-5* Errani

Radwanska *5-6 Errani - Match point Errani...

Radwanska *6-6 Errani - Brilliantly saved Radwanska. Both women were hitting from the baseline, but in the end Errani goes into the net following the longest rally of the match.

Radwanska 6-7* Errani - Match point Errani, who will serve...

GAME, SET AND MATCH ERRANI!

Well, what a fantastic match. Radwanska played some of her best stuff on clay, but the high points were too few and far between. Errani started brightly, and stayed just ahead throughout and deservedly goes through to the semi-finals.

A couple of words from Errani: "There was a lot of tension. I've never had to defend so many points, so it was very tough but I'm very happy. I don't have a preference [between Serena Williams or Svetlana Kuznetsova] - it will be tough in both cases."

That match, by the way, is in a third set. You can follow the remainder here. That's all from me on this one, I'll be back in a few minutes with Tsonga vs. Federer.

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