Maria Sharapova won a match after losing the first set 6-0 for the first time in her career. (Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty Images)

The French Open semifinals are set and, despite an early hiccup from defending champion Maria Sharapova, the favorites prevailed on Day 11.

No. 2 Sharapova played a disastrous first set before defeating longtime rival Jelena Jankovic 0-6, 6-4, 6-3 on Wednesday to make her third straight French Open semifinal (R.I.P. “cow on ice”). She will face No. 3 Victoria Azarenka, who defeated Maria Kirilenko 7-6 (3), 6-2 to advance to her first semifinal at Roland Garros. With No. 1 Serena Williams and No. 5 Sara Errani having booked their spots in the final four on Tuesday, the semifinals will feature four of the top five women.

Meanwhile, on the men’s side, the match everybody was anticipating when the draw was released is now a reality after Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal rolled into the semifinals. Djokovic ousted Tommy Haas 6-3, 7-6 (5), 7-5, while Nadal dismantled Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 6-3, 6-1. Djokovic and Nadal will meet Friday in one semifinal, and David Ferrer and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will contest the other.

Here are some of our favorite photos from Day 11 at Roland Garros.

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Roger Federer had no answers against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. (Kenzo Tribouillard/AFP/Getty Images)

Serena Williams passed her first test of the French Open, beating two-time major champion Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-1, 3-6, 6-3 in the quarterfinals Tuesday. Roger Federer wasn’t as fortunate, losing to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 7-5, 6-3, 6-3. This was Federer’s first straight-set loss at a Grand Slam tournament to someone other than Rafael Nadal or Novak Djokovic since the 2004 French Open, when Gustavo Kuerten swept him in the third round.

More photos from Tsonga’s big victory

In the undercard matches, David Ferrer crushed fellow Spaniard Tommy Robredo 6-2, 6-1, 6-1, and Sara Errani eliminated No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 7-6 (6) for her first career victory against a top-five player after 28 losses.

Here are some of our favorite photos from Day 10 at Roland Garros.

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Jo-Wilfried Tsonga is giving the French something to cheer about. (Michel Spingler/AP)

Not even the fans sitting in Court Philippe Chatrier could believe what they were seeing Tuesday. Eighth-ranked Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the last Frenchman standing, thoroughly outclassed Roger Federer 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 in the French Open quarterfinals.

Tsonga, the sixth seed, is the first Frenchman to make the semifinals in five years. If he defeats No. 4 seed David Ferrer, he would become the first Frenchman to reach the final in 25 years.

It was just Tsonga’s fourth career win in 13 meetings with Federer, but it’s the second time he’s knocked him off at a Grand Slam tournament. Tsonga said he and coach Roger Rasheed prepared by watching footage of Rafael Nadal’s matches against Federer to identify the ways Nadal has troubled the Swiss over the years.

“I tried to do the same,” Tsonga said. “Today it worked.”

“I thought he played great today,” Federer said. “He was in all areas better than me. That’s why the result was pretty clean. You know, no doubt about it. I was impressed by the way he played.”

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Rafael Nadal played his best match of the tournament in his win over Kei Nishikori. (Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are just a round away from a much-anticipated matchup after both men eased in the quarterfinals of the French Open on Monday. Tommy Haas, 35, joined them in the final eight, becoming the oldest man to make the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam tournament since Andre Agassi at the 2005 U.S. Open as a 35-year-old.

Also Monday, top-10 players Richard Gasquet and Stanislas Wawrinka played an electric five-set match on Court Suzanne Lenglen. The pair cracked winner after winner for more than four hours until Wawrinka prevailed 6-7 (5), 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, 8-6.

As for the women, Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka cruised, marking the first time the top-five seeds have progressed to the quarterfinals of a major since 2003 Wimbledon. And with losses by Sloane Stephens (to Sharapova), Bethanie Mattek-Sands (Maria Kirilenko) and Jamie Hampton (Jelena Jankovic), the American women are out save one: She who holds the top spot in the rankings.

Here are some of our favorite photos from Day 9 at Roland Garros.

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(Martin Bureau/AFP/Getty Images)

Rafael Nadal celebrated his 27th birthday with a humongous cake after defeating Kei Nishikori 6-4, 6-1, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of the French Open on Monday.

For the first time in the tournament, Nadal dominated a match from first ball to last ball. The win seemed to ease any concerns he may have had going into the quarterfinals.

Video: Youzhny slams racket 9 times

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Roger Federer’s nine-year streak in Slam quarterfinals was under threat on Sunday. (Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images)

Roger Federer made his 36th consecutive Grand Slam quarterfinal by rallying to defeat Gilles Simon 6-1, 4-6, 2-6, 6-2, 6-3 on Sunday at the French Open. Federer hasn’t lost before that round in a major since Gustavo Kuerten beat him in the third round at Roland Garros in 2004.

Also Sunday, 31-year-old Tommy Robredo came back from two sets to love down for the third straight match to upset Nicolas Almagro 6-7 (5), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to make his fifth French Open quarterfinal.

While everyone else seems to love playing as many sets of tennis as they possibly can, Serena Williams continued her devastating efficiency. She crushed Roberta Vinci 6-1, 6-3 to advance to the quarterfinals.

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It took four hours and thirty-six minutes, but Tommy Haas finally converted his 13th match point to defeat John Isner. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)

Say this about John Isner: He doesn’t just play marathon five-set matches. He plays ones you remember.

The last American man standing saved 12 match points but couldn’t save a 13th against 35-year-old Tommy Haas, losing 7-5, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-7 (10), 10-8 in the third round. The fight was impeccable, but it gives Isner no solace.

“[P}robably would have been better to lose in straight sets, because I feel terrible right now,” he said after the four-hour, 37-minute match.

While Isner’s exit means no more American men in Paris, the U.S. women are having their best showing at a Slam in almost a decade. Sloane Stephens, Jamie Hampton and Bethanie Mattek-Sands went 3-for-3 on the day, meaning the U.S. will have four women into the fourth round, the most at any Slam since the U.S. Open in 2004.

Here are some of our favorite photos from Day 7.

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A group of fans show their excitement during Day 6 of the French Open. (Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Day 6 at the French Open saw the end of “The Week of La Monf,” as Gael Monfils bowed out of the tournament to Tommy Robredo.

But that wasn’t the only outcome of note. John Isner did something he’s never done before to become the last American man standing, and Rafael Nadal continued to struggle in the cold, heavy conditions. The forecast calls for warmer temperatures over the next week, so buck up, Rafa!

Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Maria Sharapova advance at French Open

Here are some of the best pictures from Day 6.

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Maria Sharapova leaves the court after another rain delay. (Petr David Josek/AP)

Day 5 of the French Open was wet and wild. Rain washed out 35 matches Thursday and caused multiple interruptions, leaving players and fans frustrated.

How players passed the time during rain delays

No more than two matches were completed on any court, and the day ended with Maria Sharapova walking off in the rain after her second-round match was called with the Russian leading Canada’s Genie Bouchard 6-2, 4-2. As a result, Friday will be yet another jam-packed day as organizers try to get the tournament back on schedule.

Here are some of the best pictures from Day 5.

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The French men ruled Day 4 of the French Open. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga led the way into the third round, beating Jarkko Nieminen 7-6 (8), 6-4, 6-3 on Court Philippe Chatrier. Gael Monfils followed that up with a strong win over Ernests Gulbis, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2. In total, six Frenchmen rolled into the third round, with Virginie Razzano joining them on the women’s side. Allez!

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