Defending champion Francesca Schiavone fought back from a set and 4-1 down to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova and reach the semi-finals of the French Open. Pavlyuchenkova, the Russian 15th seed, broke three times to take the first set 6-1 and was within two games of her first Grand Slam semi-final.
But the Italian fifth seed turned the match on its head, edging a thrilling final set to triumph 1-6 7-5 7-5.
Schiavone will next play Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova or Marion Bartoli.
Pavlyuchenkova, the 2006 world junior champion, raced into a 4-0 lead in the opening set and clinched a third break in the seventh game to take the set 6-1.
The Italian, struggling with the windy conditions on Court Philippe Chatrier, won just two points on the 19-year-old's serve in a dismal performance.
It was a similar story in the second set as the Russian took a 4-1 lead but Schiavone dug deep to win six of the next seven games and take the match to a decider.
Schiavone landed a running backhand pass to break in the first game of the third set and seemed to be cruising to victory at 5-1.
But she imploded when serving for the match, losing the game to love and allowing Pavlyuchenkova to level at 5-5.
Schiavone broke serve to regain the initiative and, after seeing two match points saved by the Russian, she sealed victory with a forehand winner.
Schiavone, who became the first Italian woman to win a Grand Slam when she beat Sam Stosur in last year's final, admitted she would have to raise her game if she is to repeat the feat this year.
"It was very difficult for me at the start of the match. I did not play well, I hope I will play better in the semi-final because this crowd deserve to see good tennis," said the 30-year-old.
"To win the title again I will have to beat two great players."
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