Charles Platiau/Reuters
PARIS — Amanda Anisimova, an unseeded 17-year-old American, upset Simona Halep, the defending French Open champion, 6-2, 6-4, to reach the semifinals at Roland Garros on Thursday.
“I’ve been working so hard, but I didn’t think it would pay off like this,” Anisimova said in her postmatch remarks on court. “This is honestly more than I could ask for.”
Anisimova, born in the United States to Russian immigrant parents, will face Ashleigh Barty, the No. 8 seed, on Friday for a place in what would be either player’s first Grand Slam singles final.
Barty, a versatile Australian who once quit elite tennis to focus on cricket, defeated Madison Keys of the United States, 6-3, 7-5, on Thursday.